June 4, 2013 — St. Charles Health System is one of five health systems in the country highlighted for an innovative behavioral health initiative in a June 3 American Hospital Association letter addressed to President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock sent the letter in response to the president’s call to help raise awareness about mental health in communities across the country.
By bringing attention to mental health and the stigma often associated with behavioral health and addictive disorders, the AHA believes individuals, families and the public will have a better understanding of the services and resources available in their communities.
For three years, St. Charles Health System has placed psychologists — referred to as behavioral health consultants — into pediatric physician practices to provide mental health screenings and counseling services for children and their families.
By integrating behavioral health into a primary care setting, families have immediate access to intervention and support provided by highly qualified mental health professionals. As a result, behavioral health consultants are able to intervene at the first signs of mental health and behavioral concerns.
“The program gets huge support from both patients and providers,” said Robin Henderson, PsyD., St. Charles’ director of government affairs. “Having a mental health care professional available right there in the doctor’s office is changing the way we deliver care.”
Efforts are currently underway to expand this integrated care model to rural communities through telemedicine support, and also schools via onsite mental health screenings.
