Atrium Whole Person Care Programs Win Innovation Award

Pinehurst, NC (December 6, 2018). Atrium Health’s Whole Person Care program at their Behavioral Health Charlotte (BHC) campus was recognized with the i2i Center’s Whole Person Care Innovation award. i2i’s Executive Director Mary Hooper explained, “The purpose of the Innovation Awards is to recognize innovation in services and programming to increase integrated, whole person approaches to care. This was the first year for the award program and the award for Whole Person Care is to recognize programs or services that demonstrate integrative approaches and address Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) in providing care for individuals with MH/IDD/SUD needs. Atrium Health’s program was a clear winner this year.”

Atrium Health’s largest campus for delivery of behavioral health services is the Behavioral Health Charlotte (BHC) campus. It is a centerpiece of behavioral health service delivery in Mecklenburg County and the surrounding areas. Consisting of a psychiatric emergency department staffed 24/7 with board certified psychiatrists, a 66 bed inpatient unit, and 10 outpatient programs on its campus, the volume of patients seen combined with the service array uniquely positions BHC to leverage relationships with the MCO and community providers.

The goal of the Whole Person Care is the coordination of health, behavioral health, and social determinants, in a patient-centered manner with the goals of improved beneficiary health and wellbeing through more efficient and effective use of resources. BHC has been able to maximize this approach by utilizing a recovery oriented, trauma informed approach consisting of collaboration with community stakeholders, embedding Certified Peer Support Specialists in the inpatient units, emergency department, and outpatient programs, and by operating innovative, trauma informed programs such as First Episode psychosis, and Zero Suicide, as well as training staff in Community Resiliency Model (CRM). As a result of these efforts BHC has seen an
increase in post discharge follow-up for outpatient appointments, a reduction in readmissions, and an increase in patients feeling empowered to take charge of their own recovery.

Atrium Health is one of the most comprehensive public, not-for-profit healthcare systems in the nation, and a recognized leader in healthcare delivery, quality and innovation. Atrium Health’s Mission, “To improve health, elevate hope and advance healing – for all” is achieved through high quality patient care delivery, education and research programs, and numerous collaborative partnerships and initiatives. Learn more at www.atriumhealth.com

About i2i Center for Integrative Health

The mission of the i2i Center is to foster collaborative and evidence-based initiatives for improving the quality and efficacy of the behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and substance use care and support services systems within a comprehensive system of whole person care. The i2i Center accomplishes its mission by: convening stakeholders; strategizing solutions and activating change.