Becker's Behavioral Health reports that a consensus has formed across five large health systems: Clinical integration of behavioral health is instrumental to improving outcomes across specialties and reducing overall utilization.

Elicia Bunch, vice president of behavioral health at Aurora, Colo.-based UCHealth, told Becker’s true clinical integration starts with dismantling the idea that behavioral health is a separate lane.

“Integration isn’t about sharing space. It’s a shared perspective that effective and comprehensive healthcare includes mental health,” she said. “It’s about shared care plans. It’s about shared data within the medical record and really shared accountability for outcomes.” 

Ms. Bunch described a model in which behavioral health clinicians are woven into every care discipline.

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