Workforce Engagement & Sustaining Systems Changes

Presented by: Yolanda Dunbar-Johnson, LCSW-BACS-EXCELth, Inc.Jennifer Buras-Noveh, LCSW-BACS- EXCELth, Inc.Jessica Davis, LMSW- Daughters of Charity Services of New Orleans

Collaborative to Improve Behavioral Healthcare Access (C-IBHA)February 3rd-4th, 2011

Local Barriers to Integrated Primary Care-Behavioral Health

O Clinical/Provider Resources (staffing, training, time)

O Patients/Consumers (i.e symptoms, complexity of presenting symptoms/issues)

O Financial (uninsured/underinsured)O Cultural (my space/your space, my

way/your way, my problem/your problem)

EXCELth’s Primary Care-Behavioral Health Specific Barriers

O Interest ( keeping disciplines interested and in the moment)

O Professional and Personal DemandsO Staff TurnoverO Acknowledging the Importance of the

Disciplines (primary care, behavioral health, IT, financing, nursing, front desk, etc)

EXCELth’s Strategies to Integration

O Interest - Series of ongoing training (s), consistent communication, learning the language/presentation

O Professional/Personal Demands- identify the “win-win” opportunities early, creating a mind-set that reflects patient care as a shared responsibility

O Staff Turnover – educational trainings to capture new staff; communication must be consistent and ongoing

O Importance of Disciplines – mutual respect of the person and discipline (internal customer service/team building)

EXCELth’s Implementation

O Buy in from CEO, Medical DirectorO Research various models of Primary

Care/Behavioral Health Integration O Minnesota Psychiatric Society Integrated Care

Task ForceO Behavioral Health/Primary Care Integration-

The Four Quadrant Model and Evidenced Based Practices

O The Vermont Community Depression ProjectO BH/PC Integration: Models and Environmental

Assessment (Barbara Mauer, 2004)

EXCELth’s Implementation

O Needs assessment within Network Community Health Centers

O Community assessment within communities serviced by Community Health Centers

O Respecting the diversity of each community being serviced

Daughters of Charity Workforce Engagement

O Getting the Providers on boardO Visibility and AccessibilityO Being present in the Team Room and on the

floorO Enthusiastic and pro-active approach with the

providersO Educating the providers on health issues BH

can help with (smoking cessation, weight management, etc.)

O Looking over providers’ schedules for the day and seeing if there are any cases you can assist with.

Daughters of Charity Workforce Engagement

O Working with the MA’s O Educating the MA’s on your services

and how YOU can help them during the day

O Reinforcing the importance of their skills to the team and to your job

O Enthusiastic and friendly attitude with the team

O Positive feedback for their help. A thank you goes a long way!

Daughters of Charity Workforce Engagement

O Working with the front desk staffO Educating the front desk staff on the

need to get SW’s for urgent casesO Education on how to handle emotional

patients that may present at the front desk

O Importance of relaying urgent messages in a timely fashion

O Acknowledgement of how busy they are.O Positive reinforcement for their help.