Evaluation of the Integrated Primary Care Clinic Into Behavioral Care Setting

Jarman Alqahtani,Daniel West

doi:10.5539/gjhs.v10n11p169

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The study has aimed to explore the process, outcomes of primary care, and barriers that make the primary care access difficult for the patients.  DESIGN &amp; SETTING: The study has utilized quantitative and qualitative approach and collected data from the clinic and patients. Patient survey was conducted to ask the patients about the possible reasons, which prevent them from accessing primary care services in the past.  RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 46 years, among which majority (65%) were males. The results showed that education was the significant factor in determining the health status of a specific population. The clinic was successfully integrated into the behavioral health care setting. Many patients had been enrolled in the clinic for the first time with the help of a care manager that facilitated the identification of those patients. Most commonly, transportation was the main barrier for those populations for not seeking the primary care services. Emergency department use significantly declined after the implementation of the new model that reduced the cost of health services dramatically in a short period of time i.e. 6 months.  CONCLUSION: There are susceptical gaps within the fragmented care due to high rates of physical health conditions. Majority of the patients in the study sample were satisfied with the new model; therefore, the new model was termed as effective and efficient.

Highlights

Traditional healthcare models are likely to ignore the connection between mental and physical health and approach towards the mental and physical health separately (Varcarolis, 2016)
Many patients had been enrolled in the clinic for the first time with the help of a care manager that facilitated the identification of those patients
Emergency department use significantly declined after the implementation of the new model that reduced the cost of health services dramatically in a short period of time i.e. 6 months

Summary

Introduction

Traditional healthcare models are likely to ignore the connection between mental and physical health and approach towards the mental and physical health separately (Varcarolis, 2016). In the recent times, healthcare services have evolved for the development of a progressive model of integrated care (Corrigan et al, 2014). A primary care clinic was established in September 2015 inside the Scranton Counseling center by Wright Center for the integration of mental health services within the primary care clinics. The counseling center provides mental health care to the people living in Lackawanna county of Pennsylvania. Primary care services were provided on-site and collaboration with mental health services associated with integrated healthcare model, which was proposed by the Wright Center. In 1960, the programs integrated with behavioral health were originated within the primary care (Cummings & Cummings, 1977). Behavioral health care setting is carried out by behavioral and primary care providers to overcome the behavioral complications of the patient (Ward et al, 2016). Behavioral health care setting is aimed to correct the gjhs.ccsenet.org

Results

Discussion

Conclusion