Browsing by Subject "integrated care"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Addressing Food Insecurity: Lessons Learned from Co-Locating a Food Pantry with a Federally Qualified Health Center
    (Ubiquity Press, 2022-09-30) Reinoso, Deanna; Haut, Dawn; Claffey, Stephen; Hahn Keiner, Kathy; Chavez, Alejandra; Nace, Nicole; Carter, Amy; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Introduction: Social determinants of health, such as food insecurity, contribute to chronic health conditions, decreased quality of life, and health disparities. Increasingly, healthcare systems seek to address social determinants of health by integrating medical and social care. Description: Eskenazi Health Center Pecar is a Federally Qualified Health Center providing comprehensive primary care to vulnerable patients in Indianapolis, IN, USA. This health center, in coalition with community partners, established and continually developed an integrated food pantry model to address food insecurity, improve nutrition education, and support patient access to healthy food. Discussion: Food insecurity and poor nutrition are common in primary care and contribute to the incidence and outcomes of chronic conditions such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Long-term management of food assistance and nutrition programs requires substantial resources, partnerships, and leadership. We describe lessons learned in food pantry partnership, funding, logistics, and sustainability in a collaborative food access model integrated into healthcare. These lessons learned can be utilized by other health systems to scale up and accelerate strategies to better address food security and nutrition education. This paper articulates best practices for integrating a food pantry model within primary care with the goal of long-term sustainability and direct impact on patient health outcomes.
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    Benefits of Integrated Care in Mental Illness Management
    (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 2014-04-11) Benbow, Kyle L.; Bonfils, Kelsey A.; Salyers, Michelle P.
    Many people who suffer from serious mental illness have comorbid physical conditions that can cause further disability. Integrated care combines physical and mental health facilities, focusing on coordination and continuity of treatment in order to better serve patients dealing with multiple health conditions. The present study analyzed qualitative interviews conducted individuals with conditions with severe mental illness and comorbid physical health conditions, speaking about benefits of integrated care. Forty adults receiving services from a community mental health center were asked their opinions about integrated care and what steps could be taken to improve these services. Transcribed interviews were reviewed by two people, searching for common themes within the text. Many positives were highlighted throughout these interviews including the convenience of coordination of care, along with the ability to make one trip for all their medical needs, and the friendless of the on-site staff. Results showed that consumers using integrated care felt a value in its benefits. As the practice of integrate care continues, further research into the connections between mental and physical health can start being conducted. The communication between doctors of different fields presents opportunities to potentially develop new treatment plans and models for therapy. Integrated care is an excellent platform that combines the ability to better serve the community by providing multiple services to those in need while providing another opportunity to research and understand the connections between physical and mental health issues.
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    Managing physical and mental health conditions: Consumer perspectives on integrated care
    (Taylor & Francis, 2017) Rollins, Angela L.; Wright-Berryman, Jennifer; Henry, Nancy H.; Quash, Alicia M.; Benbow, Kyle; Bonfils, Kelsey A.; Hedrick, Heidi; Miller, Alex P.; Firmin, Ruth L.; Salyers, Michelle P.; Department of Psychology, School of Science
    Despite the growing trend of integrating primary care and mental health services, little research has documented how consumers with severe mental illnesses (SMI) manage comorbid conditions or view integrated services. We sought to better understand how consumers perceive and manage both mental and physical health conditions and their views of integrated services. We conducted semi-structured interviews with consumers receiving primary care services integrated in a community mental health setting. Consumers described a range of strategies to deal with physical health conditions and generally viewed mental and physical health conditions as impacting one another. Consumers viewed integration of primary care and mental health services favorably, specifically its convenience, friendliness, and knowledge of providers, and collaboration between providers. Although integration was viewed positively, consumers with SMI may need a myriad of strategies and supports to both initiate and sustain lifestyle changes that address common physical health problems.
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    Social Worker Integrated Care Competencies Scale (SICCS): Assessing Social Worker Clinical Competencies for Health Care Settings
    (Taylor & Francis, 2019) Davis, Tamara S.; Reno, Rebecca; Guada, Joe; Swenson, Staci; Peck, Adriane; Saunders-Adams, Stacey; Haas-Gehres, Lauren; School of Social Work
    Integrating physical and behavioral health services has the potential to reduce health disparities and service inequities among persons most at risk. However, clinical social workers in integrated health settings must possess relevant knowledge and skills to provide quality care to diverse populations. The Social Worker Integrated Care Competency Scale (SWICCS), developed to complement the Integrated and Culturally Relevant Care (ICRC) field education curriculum, measures students’ self-perceptions of knowledge and skills associated with providing behavioral health care. Three student cohorts (n = 38) completed the SWICCS three times during an integrated care field practicum. Results indicated a statistically significant increase in student knowledge and skills at each time point, with a large effect size (r = −.87). The SWICCS demonstrated utility in measuring and tracking social work student acquisition of knowledge and skills required for practice in integrated care environments.