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Presenting an innovative integrated primary and mental/behavioral health care model: The Health Integration Project
Program Overview: The Austin Travis County Integral Care Behavioral Health & Development Disabilities Services partnered with an FQHC, CommUnity Care, to develop the Health Integration Project (HIP). A primary care team consisting of an MD, RN, case manager, medical assistant and admitting clerk are co-located with existing mental/behavioral health services in urban and suburban areas. The HIP’s target population includes those diagnosed with severe mental illnesses and multiple comorbidities.
Outcomes: After one year of operation and over 900 patients enrolled, improvement has been seen across multiple health indicators: blood pressure decreased in 80% of patients, 63% improved blood sugar, 46% reduced BMI, and 82% improved total cholesterol. Evidence indicates significant cost savings with 618 fewer hospital admissions 1 year post enrollment in the HIP and inpatient stays were reduced by 115 days. HIP has also served as a training site for nurse practitioners (NPs) and four NPs mentored at the clinics have been hired by the FQHC which has increased access and services provided.
Future Directions: Expansion of the model to additional sites, include NPs as primary care providers to reduce costs and partner with local hospitals to further reduce inappropriate utilization of acute services.
Learning Areas:
Program planningProvision of health care to the public
Learning Objectives:
Describe the components of an innovative program integrating primary and mental/behavioral health care services.
Discuss the improvement in multiple health indicators of those enrolled in the integrated health services program.
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a family nurse practitioner and an assistant professor at The University of Texas at Austin in the Master's of Science Nurse Practitioner program. My students and I have I have worked with the staff of the Health Integration project to ensure quality clinical experiences. Additionally, my research has focused on factors associated with symptoms of mental illness within adolescents with the goal of improving prevention and identification/management of mental illness in primary care.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.