Integrated Services: Learning to take charge of your own health

Last week during our monthly member meeting, I along with the rest of my Corps Members were lucky enough to hear a lecture by Dr. James Plumb, MD, MPH, from Thomas Jefferson University speak on urban/neighborhood health. His entire lecture was so insightful but at the end of the day I found that his discussion of integrated care resonated with me the most. Dr. Plumb stated that 10% of a person’s health is related to the medical services they are provided, while the rest is based on behavior - the environment in which an individual lives, food security, education access, etc. I believe the other 90% is where integrated care comes into play.

I proudly serve at the Health Annex, a community health center in Southwest Philadelphia. The Health Annex incorporates Primary Care, Behavioral Health, Dental, Nutrition, Mind Body Wellness, Social Work Services, Insurance Services, as well as other case management and preventative care services- all under one roof. Having all of these facilities in one place allows for much better client education and comprehension.

When I first considered taking a position with National Health Corps Philadelphia, I was excited for the opportunity to serve at a site that had found such a progressive way of serving their clients. Offering so many services in one place is the first step towards transforming our fragmented healthcare system and I believed if this approach was replicated, it would be the positive change that many people are looking for. Now that I’ve served at this site for 4 months, I have only grown more convinced of my initial opinion.

When a patient enters the Health Annex, they are greeted at the front desk. They are then asked if they have insurance and if they would like to meet with someone to discuss insurance enrollment or to receive assistance troubleshooting any issues they may be having. This is the stage where my outreach and enrollment colleagues and I come into play.  Our role is to meet with patients and inform them about the different types of insurance available. We educate them on what criteria determine insurance eligibility, and this generally leads to us assisting with the enrollment process as well. Once a patient is enrolled we provide them with further knowledge on insurance competency so clients can fully utilize their new resource. For example, we explain what a deductible is, a copay, and a monthly premium. We then educate them further on follow up procedures and go over what they should expect going forward. Although someone may have come in that day planning on paying a fixed sum based on a sliding scale for their health care services, getting the care they expected and heading out, they leave the office with a more comprehensive education and a deeper knowledge of insurance.  This brings them one step closer to taking control of their own health.

My specific role focuses on educating patients about health insurance options and uses, but having an integrated health center allows for many other educational opportunities. If a patient is seen in primary care and is newly diagnosed with diabetes they can be referred to the nutritionist who can educate them on healthy eating habits and can even refer them to diabetes prevention and management groups offered at the health center. If a patient comes in and is struggling with grief or recent loss in their life they can be referred to the behavioral health consultant or the mind body counselor who can help them establish ways to combat their depression and grief. If someone is struggling because their electric has been shut off and they need to keep their insulin refrigerated, our Social Worker can offer assistance. These are three examples out of many that occur on a daily basis at my health center.

Connecting people with services isn’t a new idea, but having the services right across the hallway makes a world of difference. I believe integrated healthcare is the future of the healthcare industry and that as people become better acquainted with the associated benefits, organizations like these will proliferate. I think that means great things for the future of healthcare, for the education of patients, and for the ability of patients to take control of their own health.

This blog post was written by NHC Philadelphia member Kaila Druetto.
Kaila serves as a Health & Benefits Advocate at Family Practice & Counseling Network: Health Annex.