Two Kansas CEOs in Hutchinson, KS are staying one step ahead of federal law. They are not doing it to comply with upcoming laws. They are doing so because it makes common sense. It’s the right thing to do.
Treatment is less successful for patients who have health problems and also have a behavioral health problem. To treat a patient successfully you must look at him as
a whole individual, comprised of mind, body and soul. Too long has an individual been separated into two parts, treatment for health is in one setting while treatment for behavioral health illnesses is cared for in a completely different setting with a different staff and a completely different set of records.
In my book,Mott’s Mind, I tell my story of being admitted to a hospital for a brain tumor, being treated by a team of neurologist, and twenty-eight days later being discharged under the care of behavioral health care providers. The neurology team had never heard of anyone having their left side completely numb that actually needed treatment for depression. Little did I know I would be writing about it 30 years later. Perhaps it happened to me for the experience to share my story, I am an individual and my care must be treated as one entity rather than two. It took away 28 continuous days of my life, being in a hospital first in a normal hospital bed as a brain tumor patient to then be transferred a few stories up to be put in to a psychiatric bed.
I received an e-mail from Sally Tesluk, CEO of PrairieStar Health Center this past Friday. I believe her words describe the situation best.
On Friday, March 7, 2014 10:04 AM, Sally Tesluk wrote to Randy Conyers.:
“I have seen, through all of my years with PrairieStar (Health Center), that medical care is less successful if we do not include care for the mental health issues many of our patients experience. I believe a majority of our patients suffer from depression, anxiety, bipolar problems and many other serious issues.
PrairieStar (Health Center) and Horizons (Mental Health Center) have worked together for several years to try to overcome some of these issues. Mike Garrett, CEO of Horizons (Mental Health Center), has graciously sent a therapist to PrairieStar (Health Center) to help patients that present with physical problems, but also experience mental health issues.”
I was able to obtain a draft copy of the the fiscal year 2015 budget for the US Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration whose focus is on the integration of Health Care and Mental Illness for a better delivery system for the wholeness of individuals and their families for mental and physical well-being.
Sally continued to write:
“We have not been able to expand our joint services due to lack of money to support a full scale integration. Now we have an opportunity to fund a fully integrated model of care at PrairieStar (Health Center), including help for patients with substance abuse issues.”
What a coincidence, grant money is available for such an implementation in the HHS budget report.
Plus there is more good news. United States Congressman Tim Murphy [R-PA-18] is sponsoring The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (H.R. 3717), which is being co-sponsored by 40 House Representatives, 34 from the Republican Party and 6 from the Democrat Party. I foresee many more House Representatives, from all affiliations, band together who will also want to co-sponsor this bill.
Representative Murphy’s bill, stated as a short summary of the bullet points are Integrates Primary and Behavioral Care, which PrairieStar and Horizons have been doing for two years, empowers Parents and Caregivers so physicians and mental health providers can share crucial information, check that bullet point, Driving Evidence-Based Care, again completed by PrairieStar and Horizons, and High Quality Community Behavioral Health Services
Still, the traditional grant application process has to take place. Cheese and Crackers! I discussed the situation with Rick Cagan, Executive Director of NAMI Kansas. He has volunteered his time to help us have a perfect application.
While I was a NAMI field organizer, I owe much gratitude to the community of Hutchinson while forming their NAMI support group.
My hope is for PrairieStar and Horizons to have their grant application accepted posthaste.
It is the opinion of this writer that PrairieStar and Horizons have been and are doing the right thing for the right reasons, using common sense and staying one step ahead of the federal law.
ADDENDUM
PrairieStar and Horizons are using Mott’s Mind. The Mott motto applies to both organizations, “Let us be known by our deeds as we shall be judged by our deeds.”
For additional information on integrating the two disciplines, Google Sir Fredrick Mott, prominent neurologist and pathologist whose views are documented in A History of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Sir Fredrick continued his work until his death in 1926, 88 years ago.
I know my relative would be pleased of the deeds of Sally Tesluk and Mike Garrett, 2 CEOs of Hutchinson, KS, USA and United States Representative Tim Murphy, PhD.
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