Integrated Care: Why It Works and What We've Learned

Healthcare providers have long understood that the mind and body are inextricably connected. However, approaches to integrated care are still relatively new, and providers are still learning.

As the healthcare landscape dramatically shifted more than two decades ago, early integrated care models—and their ancestors, co-located services—were viewed in a more pragmatic way to contain costs and promote efficiency. While still true, we know that integrated care is so much more, evolving to a place where primary care, dental, and behavioral health providers work side-by-side in a highly collaborative way to address patients’ complex needs. 

Wheeler’s Integrated Care 

Wheeler Health, which began as a behavioral health provider 56 years ago, intuitively understood the concept of treating the whole person. In 2012, we expressed this understanding—and a desire to serve individuals and families more comprehensively—by opening our first federally qualified health center with primary and behavioral health services in Bristol, Connecticut. Today, we operate five community health centers in our state.

A Deliberate Approach

In 2019, as part of our continued commitment to whole-person care, we more formally and intentionally integrated behavioral health consultants into our primary care teams. On the behavioral health front, we know it is not always about applying a full or comprehensive behavioral health treatment but more about applying complementary brief interventions that help to promote wellness and recovery. Different levels of care are available as needed, and the referrals go both ways; the Wheeler behavioral health team now routinely considers factors like diabetes or blood pressure when considering a patient’s full health; the entire multidisciplinary care team meets in daily "huddles" to discuss each patient, pulling in a diverse group of experts that includes care managers, patient education specialists, community health workers, and more to look at the whole person.

Meeting Needs                     

A wise mentor once said, “People vote with their feet.” People will go where their needs are met. Here at Wheeler, we’re committed to meeting patients' needs so that they return and view us as their true medical home. We’ve learned some valuable lessons that underscore the strength of our comprehensive, integrated approach. 

For example, we offer medications for substance use disorders (Medication-Assisted Treatment) for opioid and alcohol use through our community health centers. When combined with individual and/or group therapies, this evidence-based treatment includes medications like Suboxone and Naltrexone for addiction. Our approach on this front is particularly effective because our behavioral health teams work collaboratively with our medical teams to meet the individual needs of each patient. Our ability to combine brief behavioral health assessments, consultations, and interventions during medical visits helps with consumer engagement. And engagement is the main predictor of positive outcomes.

The Road Ahead

Traditional behavioral health systems and siloed approaches to care are now considered obsolete for many of our mental health consumers. Wheeler’s team continues to evolve to meet patients’ whole-health needs. An integrated team approach incorporating different tools, like telehealth, will continue to support our evolution. We know the healthcare environment will continue to shift. Change is the only constant, and we’re more than ready for what comes our way.

Wheeler provides comprehensive solutions that address complex health issues, providing individuals, families, and communities with accessible, innovative care that encourages health, recovery, and growth at all stages of life. Our integrated approach to primary and behavioral health, education, and recovery creates measurable results, positive outcomes, and hopeful tomorrows for more than 60,000 individuals across Connecticut annually. Learn more at WheelerHealth.org.