Integrating mental and physical health care services

Mental and physical health have traditionally been treated in two completely separate systems – which has led to many problems… Less access to mental health care perhaps being the biggest one. On this Voices in the Family, we’ll examine if the affordable care act is changing this, and we’ll look at some innovative ways to finally integrate mental and physical healthcare. Our expert guests will be Dr. Norman B. Anderson, the American Psychological Association’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President.and former and founding associate director of the National Institutes of Health in charge of behavioral and social sciences research- as well as the first director of NIH’s Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research.

Our expert on the primary care side of the experience will be Dr. Frank DeGruy. As the Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Dr. Frank DeGruy, MD, MSFM has been a leading advocate in integrating behavioral health within primary care settings. He is past president of the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (CFHA), is chair of the Board of Directors of the Family Physicians’ Inquiries Network (FPIN), and is also crucial in ACT (Advancing Caring Together) andthe NIAC chair of The Academy Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care. We will also be joined by nurse manager Donna Torrisi,MSN,FAAN (nurse), Network Executive Director of the Family Practice Counseling Network.

Additional coverage: Philly clinic has 20-year head start on integrating mental, physical health care