August 27, 2013 - Department Administrator Kristie Golden, PhD was quoted extensively in an article in the Long Island Business News about the recent national focus on addressing behavioral health needs in medical care settings. Dr. Golden is one of Long Island’s leading policy experts on the integration of behavioral and physical health care.
The article by Kristen D’Andrea cited three recent examples of innovative programs on Long Island that integrate physical and mental health services: a collaboration between Family Service League and Southside Hospital that brings physicians to a community center in Bay Shore three times a week, a partnership between Clubhouse of Suffolk and FREE to establish on-site medical care at Clubhouse, and a program developed by Dr. Golden to co-locate behavioral health specialists in primary care settings on Long Island.
In the article Dr. Golden described the work that she is doing with Dr. Brian Bronson, the director of consultation and liaison psychiatry, to develop relationships with the hospital’s medical units to ensure that patients receive the mental health help they need. Dr. Golden is quoted as saying that the integration of physical and mental health services leads to better communication among doctors, improving the chances that the mental health issues of patients will be addressed.
“We need to incorporate a screening process for behavioral health difficulties for patients in every health care setting,” Dr. Golden said, pointing out that “Screenings for mental health and substance-abuse difficulties are at the forefront of our future health-care system.”