Integrated primary and mental health care: evaluating a nurse-managed center for clients with serious and persistent mental illness.
Nurse-managed centers have been at the forefront of providing ambulatory care alternatives for underserved populations lacking access to care. Following this model, the Center for Integrated Health Care of the College of Nursing at the University of Illinois in Chicago delivers primary and mental health care services to a population of people with serious and persistent mental illness. The authors' experience illustrates the many rewards and challenges that nurse-managed centers face. This article describes their center's model of integrated care, examines selected performance indicators, and discusses the implications, opportunities, and challenges ahead.
McDevitt
Judith
J
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, Department of Public Health, Mental Health, and Administrative Nursing, 845 South Damen Avenue, NURS (MC 802), Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Braun
Susan
S
Noyes
Margaret
M
Snyder
Marsha
M
Marion
Lucy
L
D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States