Mental illness affects one in five American adults at some point in their lives (Photo: Getty Images)

Psychiatrists are becoming increasingly rare while the number of people who need it increases.

Mental health providers struggle to find a way to treat them all

Now psychiatrists in the Bon Secours St. Francis health system team up with primary care physicians through a new program called Collaborative Care that reduces psychiatric needs. visits, officials say.

More: Greenville Crisis Center to Offer People with Mental Illness an Alternative Lawyers say it increases access to care, leads to better outcomes and also allows to save money.

Under this program, St. Francis uses consultant psychiatrists behind the scenes to review diagnoses, medications and medications. "The key to this model is that the consulting psychiatrist discusses each week with the primary care provider," he explains. "Patients do not need to see a psychiatrist as often."

For more information: New Mental Health Crisis Response Program in Carolina South, Upstate

About 44 million Americans have a mental illness – 10 million of them with a serious illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, according to the Institute of Medicine and Health of South Carolina.

But South Carolina ranks 50th According to Mental Health America, there were only 54 psychiatrists in Greenville County last year, just 16 in Anderson County and three in Pickens County, according to the South Carolina Office for Health Services

Dr. Carson Felkel (Photo: St. Francis Bon Secours Health System)

But 1 in 5 people will suffer from a mental health problem at one time or another in their life, says Felkel.

He said:

Mental health care is inadequate

Four in ten people with mental disorders seek help from a primary care provider, he says.

But they receive less psychiatric care He added that even though these providers prescribe 70% of psychiatric drugs nationwide, primary care physicians do not possess the expertise, has it? -he says.

More: "Even if a primary care physician refers a patient to a psychiatrist, two-thirds do not go there," he said.

"There are many reasons," he said. "Perhaps they prefer to receive care in their medical home, they are more comfortable, another reason could be waiting times."

"Or there might be a problem of co-pays. "

" Or Stigma. "

Good Care

With Collaborative Care, patients are seen by their primary care" It's patient-centered because patients receive care in the primary care provider's office, but they will get evidence-based treatment, "he said.

In addition, he said, collaborative care is reducing 39 drug use because patients receive the correct drugs at the right dose rather than multiple medications

and patients are closely monitored by clinical social workers who call them every two weeks.

"Clinicians are able to follow the patient and connect them to the right level of care at the" And they do not get better in 12 weeks, "he said. added, "they will direct them to another level of care, for example, a psychiatrist or outpatient psychiatric care."

Access and Outcomes

Primary Care Providers Now Track Depression and Decline Other conditions so that patients can be diagnosed and linked to treatment, he said.

Another element of this model reaches 70% According to him, patients who attend a place of worship connect the health system to the faith system.

To further reduce pressure on the system, St. Francis will pilot a virtual health room in the coming months. He added that in addition to improving access and results, Collaborative Care can reduce health care costs, he said.

Between 26 billion and 48 billion dollars could be saved each year by integrating mental health and other medical care According to the American Psychiatric Association

"People are getting better"

The approach is more prevalent on the west coast, where it was born more than a decade ago, said Felkel.

But because of his success He added: […]

Although he is covered by Medicare and Medicaid, the medical community expects private insurers to join him, he added.

"Collaborative Care is a good model practice for delivering mental health care, there are over 80 randomized controlled trials … to support it," he said.

"Thanks to the use of systematic sensitization and consultation of a psychiatrist, "he added," people are getting better. "

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