The integration of services of a medical clinic and a community mental health center in a rural area.
This article describes the authors' use of open systems theory and exchange theory as a model for integrating the services to clients by the Community Medical Group (a private medical clinic) and the Mississippi River Human Services Center (a federally funded public community mental health center). As the directors of their two programs, the authors specifically patterned the integration of their services after the systems theory model of inputs, processing, and outputs. Expensive duplication of services was avoided, and the two programs worked together to develop needed programs to serve the emotionally troubled, the alcohol/drug abuser, and the developmentally disabled in their service area.
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003142:Communication; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000458:organization & administration; D006208:Halfway Houses; D006801:Humans; D009935:Organizational Affiliation; D012423:Rural Health; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014922:Wisconsin