A novel approach for mental health disease management: the Air Force Medical Service's interdisciplinary model
UMass Chan Affiliations
Department of Family Medicine and Community HealthCenter for Integrated Primary Care
Document Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2003-09-01Keywords
Behavioral MedicineHealth Psychology
Health Services Administration
Integrative Medicine
Mental and Social Health
Mental Disorders
Primary Care
Psychiatry and Psychology
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Mental health disorders are one of the most substantial public health problems affecting society today, accounting for roughly 15% of the overall burden of disease from all causes in the United States. Although primary care (PC) has the potential to be the frontline for recognition and management of behavioral health conditions, this has been a challenge historically. In order to more effectively address the broad scope of behavioral health needs, the Air Force Medical Service (AFMS) established a new model of behavioral health care. Through a series of coordinated steps, the AFMS ultimately placed trained behavioral health providers into PC clinics to serve as consultants to PC providers (PCPs). Behavioral Health Consultants (BHCs) provide focused assessments, present healthcare options to patients, and deliver brief collaborative interventions in the PC setting. BHCs see patients at the request of the PCP, in 15-30-min appointments. In the pilot study, patients averaged 1.6 visits to the BHC. Over 70% of patients fell into six categories of presenting problems: situational reactions, depressive disorders, adjustment disorders, anxiety disorders, health promotion, and obesity. Patient data (n = 76) suggest 97% of patients seen were either "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with BHC services, and 100% of the PCPs (n = 23, 68% response rate) were highly satisfied and indicated they would "definitely recommend" others use BHC services for their patients. Both the implications and the limitations of this pilot study are discussed.Source
Dis Manag. 2003 Fall;6(3):179-88. doi: 10.1089/109350703322425527. Link to article on publisher's site
DOI
10.1089/109350703322425527Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/26791PubMed ID
14570386Notes
At the time of publication, Christine Runyan was not yet affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Related Resources
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10.1089/109350703322425527