Making Integrated Care a Reality: Lessons Learned From Heartland Health Outreach's Integration Implementation

Abstract

The health care challenges of people experiencing homelessness are complicated and complex. Programs that provide integrated primary and behavioral health care may best treat this population's medical, mental health, and substance use problems. However, these services are often siloed within and across organizations, resulting in uncoordinated care. Using the conceptual framework proposed by Heath and colleagues (2013), we describe the successful primary and behavioral healthcare integration implementation efforts of Heartland Health Outreach, a national leader in health care services for people experiencing homelessness. Factors that help and hinder integration implementation and lessons learned are discussed.