Health Centers are at the Forefront of Integrated & Primary Care
Whole person health care is deeply rooted in the Health Center Program — treating the mind, mouth, and body through a team-based, integrated health care delivery model that facilitates seamless transition and communication between the patient and the patient’s care team. Because primary care is often the gateway for individuals with complex health needs, the concept of integrated services in primary care is offering an array of services (medical, dental, behavioral health, substance abuse disorder, optometry…) at the same location and creating workflows that allow the provider and care team to work together in the treatment of a single patient.
Utah’s health centers actively integrate behavioral health services into their clinics — transforming our facilities, workforce, administration, and clinical operations to improve patient health outcomes while reducing care fragmentation, health care costs, and duplication of services. Behavioral health integration allows health centers to improve patient access to behavioral health services, reduce the stigma associated with seeking these services, and maximize resources.
Utah’s health centers operate along the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defined spectrum of integration — coordinated care to co-location to full integration of services through joint care plans and shared patient visits. Mountainlands Family Health Center and Midtown Community Health Center offer co-located behavioral health services, with traditional therapy available to patients in need. Family Healthcare and Green River Medical Center offer integrated approaches to treating physical and mental health conditions. These health centers offer integrated visits. A licensed behavioral health provider is involved in regular clinic visits to help address mental health and substance use conditions, health behaviors, life stressors and crises, stress-related physical symptoms, and ineffective healthcare utilization patterns.
