The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the health of Americans, both physically and mentally. The pandemic has exacerbated existing behavioral health challenges and led to an increase in new behavioral health conditions. It has also made it more difficult for people to access behavioral health care. We need to do more to integrate physical and behavioral health care to improve the health of Americans.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the health of Americans, both physically and mentally. The pandemic has exacerbated existing behavioral health challenges, such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. It has also led to an increase in new behavioral health conditions, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The pandemic has also made it more difficult for people to access behavioral health care. Many behavioral health providers were forced to close during the pandemic, and those that remained open were often operating at reduced capacity. As a result, many people with behavioral health needs were unable to get the care they needed.
The pandemic has made it clear that we need to do more to integrate physical and behavioral health care. When physical and behavioral health are treated separately, it can lead to poorer health outcomes for patients. For example, people with mental health conditions are more likely to have chronic physical health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes. And people with chronic physical health conditions are more likely to experience mental health problems.
There are several ways to integrate physical and behavioral health care. One way is to create teams of providers that include both physical and behavioral health professionals. These teams can work together to provide comprehensive care for patients. Another way to integrate physical and behavioral health care is to offer behavioral health services in primary care settings. This makes it easier for patients to access the care they need, and it can help to reduce the stigma associated with mental health conditions.
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is committed to integrating physical and behavioral health care. The AHA is working to increase the number of hospitals and health systems that offer integrated care, and it is advocating for policies that will make it easier for patients to access behavioral health care.
The AHA is also working to raise awareness of the importance of integrating physical and behavioral health care. The AHA is hosting events and webinars on the topic, and it is producing educational materials for patients and providers.
The AHA believes that integrating physical and behavioral health care is essential to improving the health of Americans. The AHA is committed to working with its partners to make this vision a reality.
Here are some specific examples of, how hospitals and health systems are integrating physical and behavioral health care:
- Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut has created a new care team that includes psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, advanced practice registered nurses, clinical nurse specialists, and psychiatric social workers. This team works together to identify and address patients’ behavioral health needs early in their care journey.
- MLK Community Healthcare in southern Los Angeles has implemented an innovative pilot program that integrates medical and behavioral health care in the emergency and inpatient environment with long-term follow-up treatment in the outpatient environment. The pilot program has been successful and is now a signature approach for effective behavioral health care.
- Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Massachusetts has built a “bridge” to addiction services with a new mobile clinic that offers patients Opioid Use Disorder treatment where they are — be it a recovery center, library, home, or the Salvation Army.
These are just a few examples of the many ways that hospitals and health systems are integrating physical and behavioral health care. The AHA is committed to working with its partners to continue to advance this important work.
