PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
We Can Do Better
Dr . Jason Friday , MD
One , it ’ s important to note that best practice for depression care involves a combination of both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy 14 .
Two , having a robust and trusted referral network is critical . This can be challenging to do , availability of specialty mental health providers for new patients can be a significant challenge and a collaborative effort must be made to assist patients as they navigate the system .
Ignorance of this growing epidemic is no longer an excuse .
Integrating Behavioral Health Within Primary Care
There are variety of ways for a primary care practice to integrate behavioral health . Organizations such as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality have published models and guidelines for integration and many states , insurance companies , and health care systems have undertaken different manners of integration 15 . In addition , various organizations and consultants are working to develop and enhance behavioral healthcare models specific to the primary care setting .
The specific needs of the primary care practice and its patients should determine the type and level of behavioral health integration .
Now Is The Time
Ignorance of this growing epidemic is no longer an excuse . We as a medical community must begin to allocate time and resources to better understand and address the behavioral health needs of our patients . The economic landscape is shifting as state and national legislation drive requirements for population health , coupled with incentives and penalties for managing the behavioral health of patients . I challenge each of my physician peers within both the psychiatry and primary care space to engage one another , move forward and continue with the integration of behavioral health , and begin the process of improving the health of our patients and our communities .
meet the author :
Dr . Jason Friday , MD
Founder , Redemption Psychiatry
Dr . Jason Friday is the founder of Redemption Psychiatry , a Board-Certified Psychiatrist and a Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist that specializes in treating families and children with emotional and behavioral problems . He obtained his Bachelor of Science at Arizona State University in Life Science with Emphasis in Cell Biology and Physiology in 2004 . He went to medical school at the University of Arizona in Tucson and obtained his M . D . in 2008 .
Dr . Friday returned to Phoenix to complete his Psychiatric residency at Maricopa Integrated Health Systems in 2011 followed by a fellowship for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 2013 . He was elected Vice Chief Resident in 2010 and served as Chief Child / Adolescent Psychiatric fellow in 2012 and 2013 . Dr . Friday specializes in caring for LDS patients and is sensitive to the needs of patients of all faiths . He speaks French fluently and is always happy to converse with a fellow francophone or Francophile .
14 Pratt and Brody .
15 Butler , et al . Integration of Mental Health / Substance Abuse and Primary Care No . 173 . Rockville , MD : Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality . 2008 Oct .
13 TODAY ’ S PRACTICE : CHANGING THE BUSINESS OF MEDICINE