We Ask Everyone.
Staff at Access Community Health Centers in Madison, Wisconsin, may get quizzical looks when they screen patients for mental health problems or addictions. They assure people that the screening is routine, part of the center’s We Ask Everyone campaign.
If the screening or a conversation reveals an area of concern, the patient is often offered instant access to mental health services.
“We’re seeing patients in real time following a warm handoff from a primary health provider,” said Elizabeth Zeidler Schreiter, the center’s Chief Behavioral Health Officer.
The center launched its integration effort in 2016 as it expanded mental health services, which have been burgeoning over the years. A consulting psychiatrist works with primary care providers as needed, but always leaves final prescribing decisions up to the providers. The Access staff now includes 12 licensed clinicians and two behavioral health coordinators.
The behavioral health coordinators have become a critical part of the care team. They follow up with patients, return calls, connect people to social service agencies or residential treatment programs when necessary and help them get to the right provider at the right time.
“It’s more tailored support,” Zeidler Schreiter said.
That support helps patients and staff alike. Staff now count on the behavioral health coordinators for a range of services and care coordination, allowing therapists and other staff to focus on their primary roles, which helps to reduce burnout, Zeidler Schreiter said.
“It’s also about care team well-being.”