Press Release

Release Date: January 15, 2010
HRCHC Contact: Communications Department
Telephone: (207) 861-3466
Email: Communications@HealthReach.org

Belgrade Regional Health Center first HealthReach location to Launch Integrated Behavioral Health Initiative

"Refocusing on each patient rather than just treating disease" – this is one of the purposes of the new Integrated Behavioral Health Initiative at HealthReach Community Health Centers (HRCHC) according to Amy Madden, MD, physician at Belgrade Regional Health Center.

"Adding a Behavioral Health Consultant to our team at the health center will help us reach our goal of providing comprehensive health care for our patients," shares Madden. The dual role of the BHC will be to assist patients in developing self-care strategies and to help the medical providers better assess and treat the patient through consultations.

This year, HRCHC developed the program with the support of a Planning Grant from the Maine Health Access Foundation (MeHAF). “In January, we will be ready to hire a BHC to assist the patient with diabetes better manage overall health, to help the parent whose child has trouble handling peer relationships, to provide on-site BH services for patients who utilize the health center for their health care,” states Connie Coggins, HRCHC President/CEO. “We are grateful for the support of MeHAF and The Davis Family Foundation which have both recognized the importance of our new program and provided necessary startup funding to enable us to launch this program. With their generous support, we will be able to launch services at several of our health centers, including two locations in 2010 – Belgrade and Western Maine Family Health Center in Livermore Falls. “

The overall goal is to improve the quality of primary care by including problem-focused BH interventions, prevent or alleviate the consequences of chronic disease, and increase prevention efforts. Patients will be screened for conditions such as depression, anxiety, pain, and substance use through the use of evidence-based assessment tools. They will establish goals to improve their health status with BHCs trained in problem-focused interventions. They will utilize on-site education and support groups to improve wellness and functioning.

The Maine Health Access Foundation is Maine's largest health care foundation. MeHAF was founded in 2000 and each year provides approximately $5 million in grants and program funding to expand access to health care (particularly for people who are uninsured and medically underserved) and improve the health of all Maine residents. www.MeHAF.org

The Davis Family Foundation is a public charitable foundation established by Phyllis C. Davis and H. Halsey Davis of Falmouth, Maine, to support educational, medical and cultural/arts organizations located primarily in Maine “to make grants where they will do the most good and where our gifts make a real difference.” www.davisfoundations.org

Belgrade Regional Health Center, located at 4 Clement Way in Belgrade, is part of HealthReach Community Health Centers, a system of eleven federally qualified health centers and two dental practices in central and western Maine. Additional locations are in Albion, Bingham, Bethel, Coopers Mills, Kingfield, Livermore Falls, Madison, Rangeley, Richmond and Strong.

Dedicated providers deliver first-class health care to citizens in over 80 rural communities. To ensure access for everyone, HRCHC accepts all major insurances, Medicare, and MaineCare. In addition, the practices offer an Affordable Care Program to uninsured and underinsured residents, and assist with applications for other programs that help with the cost of health care and medications. A private, non-profit organization with a 35-year history, HRCHC is funded by patient fees, grants and individual donations.