paint primers
mental health professionals in medical settings a primer
one of the most significant events in the history of health care is the development of separate and parallel systems for mental health and medical care . patients however want health care that is better coordinated more personalized more accessible more timely and less cumbersome to receive . these patient wants reinforce what we know about patient needs for better integrated care and more collaborative health care as shown by the following data 50 % of mental health care is delivered by primary care physicians . 67 % of all psychopharmacological drugs are prescribed by primary care physicians . 50 70 % of all primary care visits are for psychosocial concerns . this book illustrates the importance of taking an integrated approach to health care and outlines the skills that a mental health professional needs for working in a medical setting . the authors trained in health psychology psychiatry family medicine and marriage and family therapy build a persuasive case for their holistic biopsychosocial approach to the traditionally fragmented fields of primary care and mental health care.this is a primer for mental health professionals working in a medical setting . part i discusses health care settings . chapters 1 and 2 describe the specific cultures of primary care specialty care and mental health care and chapter 3 discusses ways to balance the clinical operational and financial perspectives of health care . part ii provides information on how to build collaborative medical care including getting started chapter 4 expanding the therapists identity and role in medical clinics chapter 5 working within the medical systems organizational framework chapter 6 working with the common problems that patients present in primary care chapter 7 and ways to promote healthy behavior change chapter 8 . the book concludes by highlighting some of the opportunities that exist for therapists who want to be part of this important shift in how health care is provided .