Particularly exciting are some of the division's primary and specialty care initiatives. Here, faculty and trainees work together with primary care physicians to appropriately identify and treat mental illnesses in those settings where they present most frequently. Providing care for the spectrum of medical and psychiatric difficulties within primary care, is a more holistic approach to patient care, is more comfortable to patients and providers and enhances understanding of, detection, and treatment of the mental illness. Our history serendipitously provided us with one of the first managed care programs within an academic department, placing us in a unique position to cope effectively with the changes of capitation. Emphasis on timely access to care and initial work in treatment outcomes have kept the ambulatory service synchronous with major trends in care delivery.
Work is ongoing to provide a smoothly functioning continuum of care.