B08 – Pills and Skills: How an FQHC Leveraged 1 FTE to Build a Multidisciplinary Psychiatric program to Serve Hundreds

Summary

The national demand for Psychiatry is at an all-time high. Despite the increasing need, access is limited. The national scarcity of psychiatric resources is experienced individually by patients and by the greater community of Southern Oregon where rates of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and suicide are higher than compared to statewide figures. La Clinica, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), in Southern Oregon has an innovative approach to addressing this need. The Psychiatric Health, Life skills and Opportunities for Wellness (PHLOW) Program began as a 1 Full Time Employee (FTE) pilot project with the goal to provide psychiatric support services to primary care providers, behavioral health consultants and patients; and has grown into a sustainable and expandable integrated psychiatric program. The PHLOW Program developed strategically out of community and organizational need and the model of care is designed with the organizational strengths and limitations in mind. Session attendees will learn firsthand how an FQHC leveraged a 1 FTE pilot program into a sustainable and growing Integrated Psychiatric Program. Attendees will learn functional specifics about the PHLOW Program model that they can uniquely structure to their professional and organizational needs. Additionally, the presenters will share relevant details, the good, the bad and the ugly, of the program development process and outline future program expansion goals.