You At Your Best

SATURdAY, mAY 25, 2019 | JUnE - mEnTAl HEAlTH nwAdg.cOm/YOUATYOURBEST | YOU AT YOUR BEST | 13 sPeCiAL To nWA DeMoCRAT-GAzeTTe Advantage Primary Care, a Washington Regional clinic in Lowell, integrates behavioral health with primary care. This approach aims to transform primary care into a one-stop shop that cares for the whole person, including physical, psychological, behavioral and social needs. "The future of healthier Arkansans will happen when we shift from treating physical, behavioral and mental health conditions separately to looking at how all conditions impact a patient's overall health," said Dr. Rhonald Searcy, physician at Advantage Primary Care. Through the initiative, behavioral health consultant Braden Duncan, MSW, LCSW supports Dr. Searcy in identifying, managing and treating patients with mental illness and behavioral health conditions. "Having Braden has helped to spot conditions such as substance abuse, anxiety and depression early so I can accurately diagnose and effectively treat my patients," Dr. Searcy said. "Plus, our care team has been able to help patients achieve healthy behavioral changes, including smoking cessation, weight loss and better management of chronic diseases." Behavioral health conditions impact one of five Americans, leading to healthcare costs of $57 billion a year, equivalent to cancer care. Nearly 80 percent of patients who seek treatment for psychosocial conditions present in emergency departments or primary clinics, where physicians often lack the time, training and staff to recognize and treat these conditions. Further, 67 percent of people with a behavioral health disorder do not get behavioral health treatment, and 30-50 percent of referrals from primary care to an outpatient behavioral health clinic do not make the first appointment. Failure to recognize and appropriately treat behavioral health conditions has contributed to declining health outcomes and higher total spending. "The goal of this is to bridge the gap between medical, behavioral and social conditions by laying the groundwork for a collaborative, integrated care model," Dr. Searcy said. That model incorporates three critical elements: 1) embedding a behavioral health consultant to identify, triage and manage patients with behavioral health and/or medical issues, 2) using analytics to stratify the population, identify risk and promote the appropriate level of care, and 3) analyzing options for non-traditional payment models that provide incentives for demonstrating improvement in health outcomes. Dr. Searcy says, "By creating a care model that considers all aspects of a patient's health – mental as well as physical – we can provide the best care for our patients." Mental health: Integrating behavioral health with primary care for improved outcomes sPonsoR ConTenT sPeCiAL To nWA DeMoCRAT-GAzeTTe Advantage Primary Care provides comprehensive medical services for adults and children of all ages. As part of the clinic's team-based approach, physician Dr. Rhonald Searcy is joined by Braden Duncan, MSW, LCSW, and a skilled support staff. Dr. Searcy earned his medical degree at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and completed a family medicine residency at UAMS Area Health Education Centers- Northwest. He is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Searcy's professional interests include preventive care and incorporating technology in the healthcare field. Braden Duncan, MSW, LCSW, serves as a behavioral health consultant to Dr. Searcy and his patients. He earned a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He is a Licensed Certified Social Worker. Advantage Primary Care is located at 507 W. Monroe Ave., Suite A, in Lowell. Clinic hours are 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday Thursday and Friday, and 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Most major insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid are accepted. Appointments are available by calling (479) 463-8150. More information may be found at wregional.com. Team-based approach at Washington Regional's Advantage Primary Care in Lowell

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