AMDA Delegates Considers Integrated Care



The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine is considering using an integrated care model for assisted living facilities.

This move for integrated care comes on the heels of a shuffle in “residential and institutional settings” stemming from healthcare reforms.

This step by the AMDA reflects the need for assisted living facilities and providers who want to engage in the value-based system of accountable care, moving onwards to an integrated care framework.

A statement by the AMDA board of directors note that assisted living facilities don’t need to “become nursing homes,” but they need to be able to provide on-site therapy and health services. The assisted living facility does not need to provide these health services themselves, but it needs to be made accessible and convenient for on-site patients. The gathering of delegates will happen between March 16 and 19th.

Integrated care

If the proposal for more integrated care model passes, AMDA will first work with stakeholders to develop a policy to showcase how integrated models can augment the health and well-being of patients by making services available at lower cost. This move can help take care of those who are suffering from compiled health challenges.

Understanding Integrated Care

Individuals who are suffering from cognitive impairment may die much earlier than the average patient, mostly due to untreated but preventable illnesses like obesity and diabetes. These ailments are further aggravated by factors like poor physical activity, nutrition, and health habits.

Integrated care is a systemic coordination of behavioral and general health, as well as incorporating the contributing factors of substance abuse, primary care services, and mental health. This wide-angled view ensures the best outcomes for the patient, and has been proven to be an effective approach for patients who are experiencing multiple health concerns.

AMDA initially focused on medical directors, with the organization now being inclusive of medical assistants, advanced practice nurses, and allied health professionals. This emphasis on residential care environments and the professionals that contribute to its value have been a project for many years.

The Economic Impact of Integrated Care

The Integrated Behavioral Health Partners organization has spotlighted the economic impact of integrated care.

·         Research has shown that reimbursing clinics resulted in a 57 percent drop in psychiatric days.

·         Depression management for primary care clients resulted in almost $1000 in reduced costs.

·         Collaborative health care improves the cost-effectiveness of treatment for those suffering from major depression.

The shift to integrated healthcare is a change for the traditional healthcare system. For integrated healthcare to succeed, there needs to be a comprehensive effort from everyone involved, even peripheral identities like stakeholders. AMDA is focused on making integrated healthcare a reality, answering to the lingering suspicions that naturally happens when a major change occurs.

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