South Middlesex Times

Integrated care, a coordinated approach addressing patients' physical, mental, and social health needs, has been shown to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and address health disparities. Since 2019, Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care’s Center for Integrated Care has served as a hub for integrated care education and training at Rutgers Health while providing clinical services with partners throughout New Jersey.

Researchers at the center have published one of the first studies assessing perceptions and barriers to integrated care training and practice across multiple health professions. "We want to ensure that the next generation is learning team-based collaborative skills so patients can receive this coordinated treatment that not only addresses their physical needs but their behavioral health needs as well," said Stephanie Marcello, Chief Psychologist at Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.

The study, published in the Journal of Integrated Care, surveyed 220 Rutgers faculty, clinicians, and students from a multidisciplinary perspective—including the university’s schools of medicine, pharmacy, psychology, dental medicine, health professions, nursing, social work—and clinicians at University Behavioral Health Center about their experience in collaborative care education and obstacles to training. Researchers found 97% of respondents reported that activities promoting integrated care occur often. These include consultation with other professions in patient care settings, incorporation of integrated care concepts into teachings, and interprofessional learning opportunities. Respondents also saw benefits in patient care and expressed interest in continuing to practice integrated care.

“Rutgers is a pioneer in integrated care education,” said Stephanie Marcello. “Although interprofessional education and experiential training in integrated care are limited, we are seeing more universities training in this model. The study uncovered some challenges to this type of program’s growth such as not having enough mentors and faculty trained in integrated care and curriculum development and healthcare providers that work in this model to provide experiential education and eventual employment.”

The report showed that students value learning how other disciplines approach healthcare delivery and how to interact with other professions as an important part of their healthcare education. Holistic care practices are prevention programs at their core. “When healthcare professionals—pharmacists, behavioral healthcare professionals, nurses, social workers—work as a team to provide care they improve patient satisfaction lower healthcare costs and reduce employee absenteeism and turnover,” Marcello said.

In addition when a person can receive mental and physical healthcare in one location they are more likely to take advantage of that access to behavioral health. “Patients are screened for depression anxiety and substance use just as taking blood pressure height weight is standard practice,” Marcello said. “General practitioners can then consult with an on-site behavioral health specialist on how a patient’s physical health might be affected by their mental health and provide interventions right there in the room.”

Researchers found engaging more providers and primary care offices where students can work in future practice is key to education. “We want to build these academic standards where integrated care training is embedded in health profession curricula,” Marcello said. “We want to ensure that the next generation is learning team-based collaborative skills so patients can receive this coordinated treatment that not only addresses their physical needs but their behavioral health needs as well.”