Pictured left to right: The Integrated Care team – Melissa Penn, MSW, LCSW; Haley Bichsel, MSW, LSW; Katie Elmore, MSW, LSW; Sarah Hageman, MSW, LCSW; Torre Craine, MSW, LCSW: Kelli Lunt, MSW, LCSW; Kelly Garnett, MSW, LSW. (Not pictured: Kendall Passmore, MSW, LCSW).

 

Among the advances in healthcare recently is the realization that “it’s ok to not be ok”, that seeking and receiving behavioral health care is as important as physical healthcare.  But, as with physical care, a shortage of providers can leave patients facing a longer-than-expected period of time waiting for an appointment.

Blessing Health System helps to address gaps in mental health care through the Integrated Care team. Integrated Care consists of providers with different levels of licensure ranging from staff holding Master of Social Work degrees to Licensed Social Workers (LSW) to Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW). 

Using their education and experience, Integrated Care team members provide short term therapy support to patients working through conditions including acute stress, depression, anxiety, grief, adjustment disorder, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide. They also help manage crisis calls and consults from across the health system and assess patient safety. They are present in many different areas including OB/GYN, family medicine, bariatrics, and oncology. 

The impact of the care provided by members of Blessing’s Integrated Care team is reflected vividly in the following email from a mother:

“I wanted to take a few moments and recognize your team and the impact they have made in my child’s life and my own.

A few weeks ago, my child texted me on their way to school that they were having suicidal thoughts. This was a lot to absorb as a parent. I knew my child was safe at school so I contacted our pediatrician’s office regarding a referral to be placed to a therapist my child saw last year. 

Within an hour, I received a call from Sarah Hageman (outpatient clinical therapist - Integrated Care) to discuss more in depth what my child was going through. Sarah was incredibly kind, patient and calm which helped me remain level headed as well. She explained to me what integrated care is and how they help patients in the short term. Sarah also walked me through what questions to ask my child and what signs to look for to know if I should take them into the emergency room.

Sarah helped me get my child set up to see their therapist, but the therapist had a rather long waiting list for after school appointments. So, in the interim, Sarah scheduled my child with Torre Craine (outpatient clinical therapist - Integrated Care) for just two days out from our phone call. 

Fast forward a few weeks and my child is in a much better place. They have seen Torre a few times and will continue follow up care with our regular therapist. Torre did a great job connecting with my child and providing them tools needed for when they were feeling sad or anxious. My child has been able to apply those tools in their daily life and has made great progress in just a few weeks.

I didn’t know much about Integrated Care prior to a few weeks ago and I need to say that it turned our life around in the most positive way. You have an amazing team and our community is blessed to have this resource.”

Integrated Care. Another exceptional way Blessing Health System is improving the health of our communities, and another great reason to be a Blessing patient.

In the photo left to right: The Integrated Care team – Melissa Penn, MSW, LCSW; Haley Bichsel, MSW, LSW; Katie Elmore, MSW, LSW; Sarah Hageman, MSW, LCSW; Torre Craine, MSW, LCSW: Kelli Lunt, MSW, LCSW; Kelly Garnett, MSW, LSW. (Not pictured: Kendall Passmore, MSW, LCSW).