What is Collaborative Care?

"Collaborative care" is a term used to describe different models of behavioral health in primary care. It is also a comprehensive approach to health that sees no distinction between your mind and body, but rather focuses on your overall health. Integrating mental health services into primary care is one successful avenue for treating the health care of the whole person. When mental health professionals and medical professionals collaborate, studies have shown that not only do people live longer, but they are happier with services and have more positive health outcomes. The demand that an all-inclusive approach to health be addressed together in one facility has prompted much of the movement behind the medical home. Some have argued that without mental health in the medical home, the home is not complete. To this end, it is our hope that through the CCRN we will better integrate mental health services into the Patient-Centered Medical Home.