Integrated healthcare is a modern approach to the way in which healthcare services are managed and delivered. Known by names such as interprofessional healthcare, coordinated care and transmural care, this is an approach characterized by enhanced communication and collaboration. There are many benefits of integrated care programs, read on for more info:
Integrated care programs have the ability to be implemented across all forms of care in private and public health systems. It is not a single model but a set of principles. Healthcare providers may create slightly different models, tailored to their practice, in order to improve treatment outcomes. The benefits of an integrated care program are plentiful and ultimately lead to better care for patients.
What is an Integrated Care Program?
Integrated care programs operate under the principles of collaboration, communication and co-location.
These programs extend across the care system as a whole, including primary care, specialized medical settings, long-term care, community health centers and social services.
Operational integrated care plans will take into account the biological, social and psychological needs of the patient. A team will consist of a variety of professionals ranging from psychologists to nurses and physicians.
Integrated care improves efficiency, streamlines the healthcare system and establishes a better standard of treatment for patients.
The Top Benefits of Integrated Care
Integrated care has had a positive effect on healthcare accessibility across the U.S. and has done much to reduce the divide between those with or without resources.
Private clinics, addiction treatment facilities and acute care locations have already seen large increases in the number of patients they have received as well as the percentage of positive treatment outcomes.
Many studies have demonstrated that mental health treatments, physical treatments and the overall patient experience improve under integrated care models. So, what are some of the reasons Americans seeking care look into facilities operating under an integrated care model?
Reduces Depressive Symptoms
There is a serious unmet need for mental healthcare in the U.S., with 23.6% of adults suffering from mental health conditions reporting a lack of treatment access, according to Mental Health America. The same report reveals in 2020 534,784 people took the depression screen, which represents a year-on-year increase of 62%.
Depression is increasing at an unprecedented rate across the nation, fostered by the lack of access. It is estimated that 65% of all non-metropolitan counties do not have a single practicing psychiatrist, according to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.
Enhances Access to Healthcare Services
The inability to access to healthcare services is a major problem in the U.S. due to the disconnect between care and the ability to pay for care. According to an article from Bloomberg, only half of psychiatrists actually accept health insurance as a method of payment and only half of patients who need mental healthcare are actually referred for treatment. The average number of visits to a mental healthcare provider is just two.
Responsible for this, is the significant wedge between mental and physical healthcare. The lack of mental health access contrasts with access to physical care; since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), 90% of Americans have access to physical healthcare, according to CNN.
Integrated care models remove this disconnect; under these models, mental and physical health are both integral parts of any treatment plan. Patients have access to professionals specializing in both types of healthcare.
Penn Medicine implemented a model known as Collaborative Care in 2018 expecting 500 patients in their first year. Instead, they treated more than 13,000 patients with symptoms of depression within the first two years. Evidence similar to this demonstrates how integrated care models have a profound effect on America’s growing mental health crisis.
Blends Behavioral Health With General Health
Integrated healthcare models vary, but they are all based on the four principles of being team-driven, population-focused, evidence-based and measurement-guided.
Patients who undergo care with an integrated health focused healthcare provider can expect their treatment to be guided by these principles, which also blends behavioral health with general health.
Behavioral health is an umbrella term describing the connection between mental health and substance abuse conditions.
Addiction treatment clinics utilizing integrated care models focus on behavioral health as well as on the general health of the patient. The integrated health model is essentially a model of whole-person care.
Patients attending addiction treatment clinics will receive tailor-made treatment plans addressing all their physical and mental health concerns. They will also have access to specialists in each area. Overall, this practice improves patient health, creates a better patient experience and reduces costs to healthcare providers.
Reach Out To Recovery Clinic Today For More Info On Benefits Of Integrated Care Programs
Integrated healthcare models offer significant benefits when it comes to treating mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Patients who are looking for an addiction recovery clinic are advised to ask about the care model used within that clinic. If you want to know more about how an integrated care model can benefit your recovery from addiction, get in touch with Aquila Recovery Clinic.