Integrating Psychiatric and Medical Care – Supporting Health Care Providers and Keeping Health Costs Manageable

What we know

Whether they want to be or not, primary care physicians are on the front lines of treating those with serious mental illness. This happens because many people see one health care provider for all of their medical needs. Additionally, literature tells us that most psychotropic medications are prescribed by primary care providers, not psychiatrists. As this situation isn't likely to change, we're setting up some doctors and patients for failure.

What if...

We provide best-practice information and support to primary care physicians, could we ensure better prepare these doctors for dealing with their patients who live with mental illness?

A related question

Would co-locating psychiatric and primary medical services be a way to better treat these individuals as well as deal with rising health care costs?

Our plan to find out

• Offer best practice information to physicians throughout the state about serious mental illness as well as depression, attentional disorders, and substance abuse.
• Look at examples of where services are already co-located (behavioral health provider in primary care setting), and reverse co-located (medical provider in psychiatric setting), and determine which models work best in what settings.

Who is involved with this collaborative effort

The Center for Excellence, together with Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC), and the Accesscare Network, other statewide organizations addressing care for those with serious mental illnesses. Dr. Brian Sheitman serves as the crucial link between these organizations. In addition to serving as medical director with the Center for Excellence, he's also associate director of the mental Health Program of CCNC and lead psychiatrist for AccessCare Network.

http://www.communitycarenc.com/

http://www.ncaccesscare.org/