title: Mental health care and nutrition. Integrating specialist services into primary care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary care reform is an important component of health services restructuring. One of the goals of primary care reform is to integrate specialized services into primary care settings. To date, few programs have successfully achieved this.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To integrate specialized mental health services into the offices of family physicians through the Hamilton Health Services Organization (HSO) Mental Health and Nutrition Program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since 1994, the Hamilton HSO Mental Health and Nutrition Program has integrated mental health counselors, psychiatrists, and dietitians into the offices of 87 family physicians. Activities of specialists are coordinated by a central administrative body.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lessons learned from this program can indicate how to succeed in integrating specialist services into primary care offices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. nkates@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kates
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Crustolo
authors.forename: Sheryl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farrar
authors.forename: Lambrina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nikolaou
authors.forename: Sari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ackerman
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D004046:Dietetics; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009864:Ontario; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011570:Psychiatry; D012040:Regional Health Planning