Establishing integrated healthcare with mental and physical health through appreciative inquiry

Physical and mental health care is presently delivered in a fragmented system. Researchers argue the importance for continued discussion and continued research on the existing fragmented care that is causing disparities in physical and mental healthcare delivery systems. Epidemiological data from the National Comorbidity Survey shows that 34 million American adults have a physical and mental health condition. While there is the availability of research regarding integration between physical and mental healthcare providers and fragmented healthcare, limited research exists on the cross-referral, communication, collaboration, and coordination processes among providers in rural communities for consumes with both physical and mental health needs. The purpose of this appreciative inquiry study was to investigate conditions and experiences of physical and mental health providers through use of semi-structured interviews, artifacts, and field notes and explore cross-referral, communication, collaboration, and coordination processes among these providers. This study includes ten board licensed physical or mental health providers servicing residents in a rural community in New Mexico, who are licensed independent social workers, licensed professional clinical counselors and licensed medical physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. The findings of the study suggest the importance of healthcare providers working as teammates and the simultaneous availability of physical and mental health connecting the process of integrated care with the development of an atmosphere, which is conducive for high levels of communication, collaboration, coordination among providers.