FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2011
Aiken Barnwell Mental Health Center & Margaret J Weston Community Health Centers Staff Completes Integrated Care Training in Knoxville, Tennessee
Administrative and clinical leadership from Aiken Barnwell Mental Health Center (ABMHC) & Margaret J Weston Community Health Centers (MJWCHC) recently completed training with Cherokee Health Systems in Knoxville, Tenn., in order to improve services and help clients achieve improved health outcomes. The instruction was an intensive two-day experience in Cherokee’s Primary Care/Behavioral Health Integrated Care Training Academy.
“We were very pleased to work with the staff from ABMHC & MJWCHC, and were very impressed with the group’s commitment to its community and desire to help its clients improve their overall quality of life,” said Dennis Freeman, Ph.D., Cherokee Health Systems chief executive officer. “The importance of treating the whole person in an integrated, blended approach cannot be understated in terms of improved health outcomes, provider satisfaction and financial efficiencies,” said Dr. Freeman.
Cherokee Health Systems is recognized as a national leader in the delivery of integrated care services, having practiced the model for over 30 years in east Tennessee. Cherokee’s Primary Care/Behavioral Health Integrated Care Academy has trained hundreds of providers over the last several years. As a provider in Tennessee, the organization treats over 60,000 people annually, and adds over 16,000 new patients annually.
Aiken Barnwell Mental Health Center (ABMHC) is a Community Mental Health Center operating under the South Carolina Department of Mental Health. The Center aspires to be the premier provider of behavioral health services supporting the recovery of persons with mental illness for residents of Aiken and Barnwell counties. Margaret J Weston Community Health Centers is the medical home to over 8000 patients in Aiken County. MJWCHC’s mission is to provide accessible quality comprehensive care in a dignified and culturally competent manner to the population in Aiken County and surrounding areas.
ABMHC & MJWCHC have recently partnered to explore opportunities for providing integrated healthcare (primary health & behavioral health) in Aiken County. “The partnership provides a unique opportunity for both agencies to work together to improve access to primary care and behavioral health services in order to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Aiken County” said Tamara Smith, Program Manager for Community Rehabilitative Services at ABMHC.
For more information on Cherokee Health Systems visit www.cherokeehealth.com. For more information about Aiken Barnwell Mental Health Center visit www.aikenbarnwellmhc.com.
For more information about Margaret J Weston Community Health Center visit www.mjw.org.
CONTACTS:
Tamara Smith/Rick Acton
Aiken Barnwell Mental Health Center
1135 Gregg Hwy
Aiken SC 29801
803-641-7700
TLS15@scdmh.org
RLA78@scmh.org
www.aikenbarnwellmhc.com
Carolyn Emanuel-McClain/Gigina Walker
Margaret J Weston Community Health Centers
4645 Augusta Rd
Clearwater SC 29822
803-593-2185
cmcclain@mjwchc.org
gwalker@mjwchc.org
Bob Franko, Vice President/Training Coordinator
Cherokee Health Systems
2018 Western Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37921
O: (865) 934-5725 C: (865) 850-7882
Bob.Franko@cherokeehealth.com
www.cherokeehealth.com
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