Promoting Patient Centered Care
New Funding
(June 2013)
Thriving in Place across the Continuum of Care, Learn more...
Offering patient-centered care means changing the current way health care is delivered so it is more holistic, coordinated, comprehensive and continuous. In a patient-centered approach, people partner with their health care providers to take an active role in making decisions and participating in their care. Primary care should be seamlessly integrated with behavioral health, dental care, specialty care and other services, and be supported by integrated electronic health information systems that can improve care and reduce costs.
MeHAF uses a combination of tools and approaches to promote patient-centered care. We provide grant funding to support innovative, cross-disciplinary clinical projects; policy research, outreach and advocacy; focused technical assistance, training and quarterly learning sessions with local and national experts. At the core is an emphasis on engaging patients and families in care delivery.
One of MeHAF's most far-reaching programs is our Integration Initiative - a ten-year, $10 million initiative launched in 2006 that focuses on promoting patient-centered care by improving coordination and seamless care delivery between behavioral health and primary care providers. Since 2007 our grants and programming supported 42 grant projects which involved over 150 collaborative partnering organizations committed to implementing integrated behavioral health and primary care in over 100 Maine practice sites. The next phase of this work will focus on embedding integrated care into other key state-wide strategies that enhance patient-centered care.
MeHAF also advance policies and practices in the public and private sectors using an array of approaches, including:
To learn more about MeHAF's approach to patient and family-centered care, e-mail Becky Hayes Boober or call her at (207) 620-8266 x 114.