Population Health Management in Integrated Physical and Mental Health Care

Abstract

Purpose

Individuals suffering from serious mental illness (SMI) face many challenges of navigating a complex and often fragmented health care system and may die significantly earlier from co-morbid physical health conditions. Integrating mental and physical health care for individuals with SMI is an emerging trend addressing the often-neglected physical health care needs of this population to better coordinate care and improve health outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Population Health Management (PHM) provides a useful framework for designing integrated care programs for individuals with SMI.

Findings

This paper examines the structure and evolution of the integrated care program in Missouri in the context of PHM, highlighting particular elements of PHM that facilitate and support development of an integrated mental and physical health care program.

Originality/value

As health care reform provides external motivation to provide integrated care, this study can be useful as other states attempt to address this important issue.

Citation

Sieck, C.J., Wickizer, T. and Geist, L. (2014), "Population Health Management in Integrated Physical and Mental Health Care", Population Health Management in Health Care Organizations (Advances in Health Care Management, Vol. 16), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 139-150. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1474-823120140000016006