Understanding Integrated Behavioral Health Care or IBHC | CareStream Blog

One of the biggest problems today is the growing number of behavioral health disorders affecting millions of people globally. In fact, CDC reported that 40% of Americans suffer from behavioral and mental health issues. Recognizing early signs of mental health problems and teaching family members to determine when one of their family members needs professional help is crucial for the person’s well-being. A field in the healthcare industry called Integrated Behavioral Health Care (IBHC) was formed to address these concerns. This article will talk more about IBHC to address common concerns and ensure people get the care they need.

Defining Medical Terms

Before we define Integrated Behavioral Health Care, let’s explain the contexts of each definition. IBHC was designed around the following principles:

Patient-centered care

Patient-centered care involves treating the person with respect and dignity and involving them in the process of their health care. Professionals define this term as “providing care that is respectful of, and responsive to, individual patient preferences, needs and values, and ensuring that patient values guide all clinical decisions.” Basically, it treats a patient as a key stakeholder in their health care.

Systematic treatment

This school of thought revolves around the idea of integration, which should be part of a patient’s routine to help in their recovery journey. You must use it reliably for the care of the patient.

Behavioral health

Behavioral health refers to the broad category of integrated health services in medical care. It includes health behaviors, mental health, and substance abuse conditions and diagnoses, chronic illness care, and care of physical symptoms associated with stress rather than diseases. It is basically the connection between behaviors and a person’s health.

What Is Integrated Behavioral Health Care?

Integrated Behavioral Health Care is the process of collaborating between medical and behavioral health clinicians to address medical conditions and related behavioral health factors that affect health and well-being. Thanks to the collaborative effort of primary care and behavioral health clinicians, a patient’s experience improves. Such professionals use a systematic and cost-effective approach to answering patient concerns. The care in this process addresses health behaviors (including their contribution to chronic medical illnesses), mental health and substance abuse conditions, life stressors and crises, stress-related physical symptoms, and ineffective patterns of health care utilization. It doesn’t necessarily mean that health care teams should be at the present and physical location. Although there are certain advantages to it, it is possible to work together in separate locations.

Benefits of Integrated Behavioral Health Care

According to a number of studies, integrated behavioral health care improves health and patient experience and reduces costs. Patients look at IBHC as a one-stop-shop for all of their health needs. Whether they need help to deal with their mental problems or substance use, they can seek help from these professionals. Another benefit is that patients with chronic health conditions can have their concerns managed and addressed through IBHC. Medical providers might also appreciate having behavioral health partners, especially if they don’t have the training to address some concerns.

Conclusion

Integrated Behavioral Health Care is an emerging field that many patients can benefit from. All of their concerns can be addressed in one place, and it will reduce the cost of going from one doctor to another. So, if you know of someone who needs help, why not recommend IBHC? Behavioral health is an important field in the medical industry. It’s a good thing that Medistics Health can help you with all your medical concerns. Contact us today!