FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2012
Aiken Barnwell Mental Health Center & Margaret J. Weston Community Health Centers
Announce Partnership and Integrated Healthcare Project
Aiken Barnwell Mental Health Center (ABMHC) & Rural Health Services d/b/a Margaret J. Weston Community Health Centers (MJWCHC) are pleased to announce their formal partnership and Integrated HealthCare Project.
Research indicates that more Mental Health interventions occur in the primary care setting than in specialty mental health settings (Wang et al 2005) and over one third of the patients in primary care practices have a psychiatric disorder (Spitzer et al 1984; Mauksch, et al, 2001). In 2007, USA Today ran a report on the front-page from the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) titled “Mental Illness Linked to Short Life.” The report stated, “Adults with serious mental illness treated in public systems die about 25 years earlier than Americans overall, a gap that’s widened since the early 90’s when major mental disorders cut life spans by 10 to 15 years...”
Integrated Health Care has many advantages including: improved access to care; improved clinical outcomes by reducing health disparities; improved collaboration between primary care and behavioral health practitioners; and maximization of the expertise and resources available within ABMHC and MJWCHC. As of January 9, clients at both agencies will be screened for primary healthcare and behavioral needs. Patients coming to MJWCHC for healthcare services will have access to a Behavioral HealthCare Consultant for assessment and short-term behavioral health treatment. In the near future, Primary Care Services will be available on site at ABMHC’s Main Office. Staff at both agencies will collaborate regarding treatment decisions and protocols in order to best serve the client.
Aiken Barnwell Mental Health Center (ABMHC)is a Community Mental Health Center operating under the South Carolina Department of Mental Health serving 4500 clients per year. Margaret J Weston Community Health Centers is the medical home to over 8000 patients in Aiken County.
For more information about Aiken Barnwell Mental Health Center and the Integrated Healthcare Project visit www.aikenbarnwellmhc.com. For more information about Margaret J Weston Community Health Center visit www.mjwchc.org.
CONTACTS:
Rick Acton/Tamara Smith
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
803-593-9283
cmcclain@mjwchc.org
gwalker@mjwchc.org
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