Blog Post 7- Abbi Herrold

This week in class we discussed the integrative model of healthcare and how e-mental health can have an immense amount of benefit to these type of programs. E-mental health provides increased access to care and provides timely access to education and learning opportunities. These aspects of e-mental health are crucial to integrative care. Integrative healthcare systems are kind of a " one stop shop" kind of deal, in the ideal integrative healthcare system a patient would be able to see their psychologists, psychiatrists, general practitioner, dietitian, pharmacists, etc. all at one location. An example of this would be teaching hospitals, for example my friend goes to the University of Chicago to see a rare disease specialist, neurologist, psychologist, and is able to complete all her medical testing in one visit. I feel as if this is truly an ideal model of integrative care as she is able to see all her doctors in one day, and they are all in open communication with each other in regards to her health and well-being. I would consider this model of care to be very high in medical care and in the middle range of mental health care. She sees all of her doctors and her psychologist here, but still must go out of the network to see a psychiatrist, if she also saw a psychiatrist here i would consider this model to be both high in medical and mental health integration.

I think the methods of educating clients and training clinicians via telehealth is a brilliant idea as educating via the internet or web conferencing is in general the most accessible option. If patients are able to be educated via online services and technology for simple tasks, that it may save very long trips which can be very costly. Training clinicians is effective in this way as well as it may be very difficult to find a day in which all of those on a team from different offices are able to meet, but it is not as difficult to find fifteen minutes within the day where everyone can be on a Skype conference call.

I found a video of a place in Merillville, Indiana ( right by home town!) where they have integrated both medical care and mental health care. The video discusses how having a integrated system in community health  has really been successful in helping patients. I feel as I would be very grateful as an anticipating clinician to be working in a health care center which uses an integrative healthcare model. I feel as if this type of model is the most effective and satisfying for patients, and possibly even for providers as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-mZA4vphJw&index=6&list=PL2737C2C6E81E9177