In an effort to provide comprehensive quality healthcare services to our patients, MD2U is establishing a Primary Care with Mental Health Concentration consult service.  This venture will provide mental health assistance to our patients experiencing mental health issues that impact their overall health status. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality indicates there is overwhelming evidence to suggest that mental health problems, though common, often go unrecognized in primary care settings. Furthermore, these conditions compromise the quality and outcomes of treatment for physical health conditions. Appropriate mental health treatment can greatly assist with the alleviation of these impediments to well-being. (AHRQ Publication No. 10-0084-EF June 2010)

The Primary Care with Mental Health Concentration Team will consist of medically certified Primary Care Providers with specialized interest and experience in dealing with mental health issues. They will have a working knowledge of how those issues can impact a patient’s health status. Providers will have a working knowledge of community resources designed to support persons struggling with mental health issues. Additionally, these providers will have a professional collaborative relationship with both a psychiatrist and a primary care physician.

Eligibility: All patients of the practices known as MD2U will have access to these services.

Referrals:  Referrals will be taken from MD2U providers, as well as outside agencies. If a direct referral is made from an outside agency, the PCMHC provider will act as primary provider until such time as the mental health crisis has stabilized.

Referrals can be made for mental health crisis management, psychiatric medication review, community resource identification, or development of a treatment management strategy that addresses mental health aspects of the patient’s needs. Intervals for follow up visits will be determined by the PCMHC professional and will be dependent upon such factors as type of intervention requested and/or provided and level of management required. Services will be provided within the framework of the regularly scheduled medical visit, unless the situation warrants a more immediate visit.

The process for determining the appropriateness of a referral and the need for return visits will be formalized to provide greater clarity for providers.