Presented by Dr. Elena Reyes, Florida State University; Courtney Whitt, Healthcare of Immokalee
Primary care is an important gateway to behavioral health services and the more integration there is of mental health services into existing care processes – the better equipped community health centers will be to screen and treat patients that present with both behavioral and physical health needs. This is particularly true for migrant health programs that treat agricultural workers who often rely on community health centers for the bulk of their healthcare needs. In addition to improving clinical outcomes, integrated care is also cost-effective, and often aids with the recruitment and retention of rural health care providers. This presentation will provide information for administrators of community health centers around the implementation of integrated care. Participants will receive information to help evaluate their organization’s readiness for initiating or expanding integrated care programs. Common integrated care models will be presented along with information on implementation barriers and solutions.
