Conversations with Dr. Tony: Advancing Integrated Care: Primary and Behavioral Health Integration Amidst COVID-19 and Beyond
The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the urgent need for the coordinated provision of both primary and behavioral health services. Beyond the medical impact, this public health concern has the potential to increase rates of mental health illness. As primary care and behavioral health clinics navigate unprecedented barriers in maintaining patient access and engagement, our own “pre-existing conditions” such as provider burnout and patient struggles in navigating complex systems of care have only exaggerated.