Orange County NC Website
Agenda Item Number: <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br />AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY <br /> <br />Meeting Date: March 23, 2016 <br /> <br />Agenda Item Subject: Integrated Behavioral Health Pilot <br /> <br />Attachment(s): Powerpoint Presentation <br /> <br />Staff or Board Member Reporting: Kathleen Goodhand, Home Visiting Services <br />Supervisor, Hannah Welch, UNC-PrimeCare Intern & Andrea Mulholland, FNP <br /> <br />Purpose: X___ Action <br /> _ _ Information only <br /> ____ Information with possible action <br /> <br /> <br />Summary Information: UNC-PrimeCare Intern Hannah Welch, Kathleen Goodhand <br />and Andrea Mulholland will provide an overview of the results of the integrated <br />behavioral health/prime care pilot and make a recommendation for funding a behavioral <br />health (Social Work Clinical Specialist) position. <br /> <br />The attached presentation details the need and projected cost for funding this position. <br /> <br />Background: Behavioral and social factors contribute to nearly every cause of death, <br />illness and disability (Journal of the American Medical Association 2004). As much as <br />85% of physician visits are for problems that have a significant psychological and/or <br />behavioral component (American Psychological Association 2016). Research has <br />shown that integrating mental health, substance abuse and primary care services, <br />enhances services, improves quality of care, reduces health care costs and produces <br />the best outcomes for caring for people with multiple healthcare needs. <br /> <br />In August 2015, we initiated integrated behavioral health as a part of the health <br />department’s primary care services. Utilizing a UNC-PrimeCare MSW Intern (UNC- <br />PrimeCare interns are masters in social work students, trained to work in primary care <br />settings as behavioral and mental healthcare specialists), we piloted providing <br />integrated behavioral health and prime care services in both OCHD clinics. <br /> <br />From August 2015 to February 2016, our UNC-PrimeCare Intern received 85 referrals <br />and provided services to 56 patients with mental or behavioral health issues and/or <br />substance abuse. Issues ranged from suicidality, postpartum depression, domestic