Posted: Wednesday, October 09, 2013
A recent grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA)will provide integrated primary and behavioral health care services for uninsured Rhode Islanders with chronic illnesses, mental health, and substance use problems. The program, Health Connections, will work to improve both chronic illness and behavioral health indicators among patients who frequently seek care from the hospital system by providing a comprehensive mix of services and support structures from the hospital through to the community. The goal will be to improve overall health and reduce use of high cost crisis level care.
“Health Connections gives The Providence Center the opportunity to work with other health providers to change the way care is provided for people with behavioral health diagnosis in our state” said Dale K. Klatzker, Ph.D., President/CEO of The Providence Center. “This is an exciting step towards higher quality more cost effective care that can serve as a model nationally.”
The grant is one of six federal grants The Providence Center has received over the last three years, totaling $7.045 million. The grants, which include funding for Anchor Recovery Community Center and support of a recovery oriented system of care; homeless programs serving the chronically homeless and homeless veterans; the implementation of an electronic health record that shares information across agencies; and a community-based integrated care system that partners with community health centers, have helped The Providence Center to become a leader in innovative approaches to behavioral health.