Texas Primary Care Consortium 2022 Annual Summit Plenary: Panel Discussion on Integrated Primary Care

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Historically, behavioral health and physical health services have existed in separate silos which limits integration and overall effectiveness. Oral health services have similarly operated along parallel but non-intersecting tracks with primary care.

According to SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), “Integrating mental health, substance abuse, and primary care services produces the best outcome and proves the most effective approach to caring for people with multiple health care needs.

”It is now well recognized that the majority of factors that contribute to one’s health status are not medical but are the conditions into which one is born, live, and work – referred to as the social determinants of health (SDOH). Integrating screening for SDOH and developing referral relationships with community-based organizations such as food banks and housing agencies are important steps in meeting the needs of our patients.This panel discussion will focus on 3 key areas:1) Integrating behavioral health and substance use2) Integrating oral health3) Integrating SDOH screening and referral into primary care

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Dr. C. Turner Lewis, III, MD Board Chair & Medicaid Leader Genovista

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Deborah Morris-Harris, MD Chief Medical Officer Prism Health North Texas

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Jennifer Mertz, MSN, RN, NEA-BC Chief Nursing Officer BVCAA - Health Point

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Dr. Jim Walton, DO, MBA, FACP President & CEO Genesis Physicians Group