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Integrated care: connecting medical and behavioral care | Tom Sebastian | TEDxSnoIsleLibraries


shortly before my or after my 40th

shortly before my or after my 40th birthday I got in a car and merged onto

birthday I got in a car and merged onto

birthday I got in a car and merged onto a highway on the way to work and

a highway on the way to work and

a highway on the way to work and suddenly my heart was pounding and my

suddenly my heart was pounding and my

suddenly my heart was pounding and my chest was tight and I couldn’t breathe

chest was tight and I couldn’t breathe

chest was tight and I couldn’t breathe so I pulled off to the side of the road

so I pulled off to the side of the road

so I pulled off to the side of the road I made a quick phone call to my wife

I made a quick phone call to my wife

I made a quick phone call to my wife Sherry and left her a brief message that

Sherry and left her a brief message that

Sherry and left her a brief message that I loved her and then i called 9-1-1 a

I loved her and then i called 9-1-1 a

I loved her and then i called 9-1-1 a short time later the paramedics arrived

short time later the paramedics arrived

short time later the paramedics arrived and they loaded me onto the ambulance

and they loaded me onto the ambulance

and they loaded me onto the ambulance and they put nitroglycerin under my

and they put nitroglycerin under my

and they put nitroglycerin under my tongue nitroglycerin I thought wow they

tongue nitroglycerin I thought wow they

tongue nitroglycerin I thought wow they must think I’m dying too so he loaded me

must think I’m dying too so he loaded me

must think I’m dying too so he loaded me into the ambulance and they took me to

into the ambulance and they took me to

into the ambulance and they took me to the local emergency room the emergency

the local emergency room the emergency

the local emergency room the emergency room doctor there ran a number of tests

room doctor there ran a number of tests

room doctor there ran a number of tests and she came back and said to me I’m not

and she came back and said to me I’m not

and she came back and said to me I’m not really sure what’s going on with you but

really sure what’s going on with you but

really sure what’s going on with you but you don’t seem to be in any immediate

you don’t seem to be in any immediate

you don’t seem to be in any immediate danger and so I was discharged from the

danger and so I was discharged from the

danger and so I was discharged from the hospital with a number of referrals for

hospital with a number of referrals for

hospital with a number of referrals for follow-up and so then over the next

follow-up and so then over the next

follow-up and so then over the next several weeks

several weeks

several weeks I saw a variety of specialists received

I saw a variety of specialists received

I saw a variety of specialists received a variety of diagnosis was started on a

a variety of diagnosis was started on a

a variety of diagnosis was started on a variety of medications to treat

variety of medications to treat

variety of medications to treat everything from heart disease to acid

everything from heart disease to acid

everything from heart disease to acid reflux and then a couple months later it

reflux and then a couple months later it

reflux and then a couple months later it happened again but this time I was able

happened again but this time I was able

happened again but this time I was able to immediately get in to see my longtime

to immediately get in to see my longtime

to immediately get in to see my longtime doctor so he sat me down he said Tom

doctor so he sat me down he said Tom

doctor so he sat me down he said Tom look there is nothing wrong with your

look there is nothing wrong with your

look there is nothing wrong with your heart what’s going on with you and after

heart what’s going on with you and after

heart what’s going on with you and after a conversation about everything that was

a conversation about everything that was

a conversation about everything that was going on in my life in that time he gave

going on in my life in that time he gave

going on in my life in that time he gave me the correct diagnosis of having

me the correct diagnosis of having

me the correct diagnosis of having depression and anxiety and it was

depression and anxiety and it was

depression and anxiety and it was manifesting itself and he’s terrible

manifesting itself and he’s terrible

manifesting itself and he’s terrible anxiety attacks that were making me feel

anxiety attacks that were making me feel

anxiety attacks that were making me feel like I was dying I was really lucky I’m

like I was dying I was really lucky I’m

like I was dying I was really lucky I’m a mental health professional I went to

a mental health professional I went to

a mental health professional I went to my medical provider thinking I’ve had a

my medical provider thinking I’ve had a

my medical provider thinking I’ve had a medical condition but he saw the larger

medical condition but he saw the larger

medical condition but he saw the larger picture he saw me as a whole person and

picture he saw me as a whole person and

picture he saw me as a whole person and he was able to identify what I was

he was able to identify what I was

he was able to identify what I was facing were challenges related to my

facing were challenges related to my

facing were challenges related to my mental and emotional well-being

unfortunately this is not the norm in

unfortunately this is not the norm in our country the medical mental health

our country the medical mental health

our country the medical mental health and addiction treatment systems are

and addiction treatment systems are

and addiction treatment systems are existing in these separate silos

existing in these separate silos

existing in these separate silos and they’re creating this fragmented

and they’re creating this fragmented

and they’re creating this fragmented difficult to navigate maze a game of

difficult to navigate maze a game of

difficult to navigate maze a game of hide-and-seek in order to find the care

hide-and-seek in order to find the care

hide-and-seek in order to find the care that one really needs this leads to

that one really needs this leads to

that one really needs this leads to overly narrow diagnosis and at times

overly narrow diagnosis and at times

overly narrow diagnosis and at times really bad outcomes for folks where they

really bad outcomes for folks where they

really bad outcomes for folks where they end up in emergency room hospital beds

end up in emergency room hospital beds

end up in emergency room hospital beds and other institutional settings at the

and other institutional settings at the

and other institutional settings at the highest cost and likely the least

highest cost and likely the least

highest cost and likely the least effective treatment in the long run so

effective treatment in the long run so

effective treatment in the long run so to see how this plays out in real life

to see how this plays out in real life

to see how this plays out in real life let’s follow the story of Emma who’s in

let’s follow the story of Emma who’s in

let’s follow the story of Emma who’s in fourth grade

fourth grade

fourth grade Emma’s teacher expresses concerns that

Emma’s teacher expresses concerns that

Emma’s teacher expresses concerns that she’s often absent-minded in the

she’s often absent-minded in the

she’s often absent-minded in the classroom at time she’s falling asleep

classroom at time she’s falling asleep

classroom at time she’s falling asleep and she’s making frequent visits to the

and she’s making frequent visits to the

and she’s making frequent visits to the school nurse with a variety of

school nurse with a variety of

school nurse with a variety of complaints of aches and pains Emma takes

complaints of aches and pains Emma takes

complaints of aches and pains Emma takes her to the doctor her doctor after a

her to the doctor her doctor after a

her to the doctor her doctor after a brief visit gives her a diagnosis and

brief visit gives her a diagnosis and

brief visit gives her a diagnosis and sends her home likely without having

sends her home likely without having

sends her home likely without having evaluated or treated all her needs so

evaluated or treated all her needs so

evaluated or treated all her needs so how does that play out for Emma

how does that play out for Emma

how does that play out for Emma continued difficulty in the classroom

continued difficulty in the classroom

continued difficulty in the classroom maybe getting in trouble at school

maybe getting in trouble at school

maybe getting in trouble at school leading the tension at home adding to

leading the tension at home adding to

leading the tension at home adding to the stress of whatever she’s already

the stress of whatever she’s already

the stress of whatever she’s already trying to cope with that’s an example of

trying to cope with that’s an example of

trying to cope with that’s an example of how the fragmented health care system is

how the fragmented health care system is

how the fragmented health care system is failing us but thankfully this is

failing us but thankfully this is

failing us but thankfully this is changing we’re changing the way we’re

changing we’re changing the way we’re

changing we’re changing the way we’re caring for people’s mental and emotional

caring for people’s mental and emotional

caring for people’s mental and emotional well-being as well as our physical

well-being as well as our physical

well-being as well as our physical health we’re recognizing that mental

health we’re recognizing that mental

health we’re recognizing that mental health conditions and addictions are

health conditions and addictions are

health conditions and addictions are genuine health conditions just like

genuine health conditions just like

genuine health conditions just like heart disease or diabetes and this shift

heart disease or diabetes and this shift

heart disease or diabetes and this shift is laying the platform to move away from

is laying the platform to move away from

is laying the platform to move away from this fragmented system to one that is

this fragmented system to one that is

this fragmented system to one that is more integrated and treats the whole

more integrated and treats the whole

more integrated and treats the whole person it’s leading the integrated care

person it’s leading the integrated care

person it’s leading the integrated care experiences so how would this change for

experiences so how would this change for

experiences so how would this change for Emma Emma’s mom takes her to the doctor

Emma Emma’s mom takes her to the doctor

Emma Emma’s mom takes her to the doctor the doctor now realizes wait a second

the doctor now realizes wait a second

the doctor now realizes wait a second there’s more going on here than just a

there’s more going on here than just a

there’s more going on here than just a physical illness and her mom are able to

physical illness and her mom are able to

physical illness and her mom are able to go down the hallway and make an

go down the hallway and make an

go down the hallway and make an appointment with a social worker one

appointment with a social worker one

appointment with a social worker one that specializes in working with kids

that specializes in working with kids

that specializes in working with kids and that social worker is able to take

and that social worker is able to take

and that social worker is able to take the time to make a full assessment of

the time to make a full assessment of

the time to make a full assessment of all of them as needs now the social

all of them as needs now the social

all of them as needs now the social worker the doctor Emma and her

worker the doctor Emma and her

worker the doctor Emma and her are able to work together to create a

are able to work together to create a

are able to work together to create a care plan that addresses all those needs

care plan that addresses all those needs

care plan that addresses all those needs this is an example of how an integrated

this is an example of how an integrated

this is an example of how an integrated care approach can be transformational in

care approach can be transformational in

care approach can be transformational in the lives of those that we serve there’s

the lives of those that we serve there’s

the lives of those that we serve there’s another innovation I want to share with

another innovation I want to share with

another innovation I want to share with you

you

you it’s the growing recognition in the

it’s the growing recognition in the

it’s the growing recognition in the healthcare system that unless one’s

healthcare system that unless one’s

healthcare system that unless one’s basic needs are met good overall health

basic needs are met good overall health

basic needs are met good overall health is very difficult to achieve we referred

is very difficult to achieve we referred

is very difficult to achieve we referred to this as the social determinants of

to this as the social determinants of

to this as the social determinants of health you may be familiar with Maslow’s

health you may be familiar with Maslow’s

health you may be familiar with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs developed by Abraham

hierarchy of needs developed by Abraham

hierarchy of needs developed by Abraham Maslow this well-accepted theory

Maslow this well-accepted theory

Maslow this well-accepted theory maintains the endless one’s basic needs

maintains the endless one’s basic needs

maintains the endless one’s basic needs are met it’s higher too it’s hard to

are met it’s higher too it’s hard to

are met it’s higher too it’s hard to achieve those higher-level goals and

achieve those higher-level goals and

achieve those higher-level goals and aspirations in your life the social

aspirations in your life the social

aspirations in your life the social determinants of health is a similar

determinants of health is a similar

determinants of health is a similar theory that maintains that unless one’s

theory that maintains that unless one’s

theory that maintains that unless one’s basic needs are met good overall health

basic needs are met good overall health

basic needs are met good overall health again it’s very difficult to achieve

again it’s very difficult to achieve

again it’s very difficult to achieve simply put it means that if people don’t

simply put it means that if people don’t

simply put it means that if people don’t have a decent affordable place to live

have a decent affordable place to live

have a decent affordable place to live access to adequate amounts of

access to adequate amounts of

access to adequate amounts of nutritional food and other basic needs

nutritional food and other basic needs

nutritional food and other basic needs met all the best care in the world may

met all the best care in the world may

met all the best care in the world may not make a difference what if Emma and

not make a difference what if Emma and

not make a difference what if Emma and her mom are living in a homeless shelter

her mom are living in a homeless shelter

her mom are living in a homeless shelter or in their car what are the medical and

or in their car what are the medical and

or in their car what are the medical and behavioral health providers supposed to

behavioral health providers supposed to

behavioral health providers supposed to do about that I’ll tell you what

do about that I’ll tell you what

do about that I’ll tell you what increasingly medical providers and

increasingly medical providers and

increasingly medical providers and behavioral health providers are

behavioral health providers are

behavioral health providers are partnering together with social service

partnering together with social service

partnering together with social service providers in order to develop

providers in order to develop

providers in order to develop comprehensive care plans I mean now

comprehensive care plans I mean now

comprehensive care plans I mean now we’re really getting it somewhere not

we’re really getting it somewhere not

we’re really getting it somewhere not only having Emma’s medical and

only having Emma’s medical and

only having Emma’s medical and behavioral health needs met but also her

behavioral health needs met but also her

behavioral health needs met but also her basic needs and everybody working

basic needs and everybody working

basic needs and everybody working together as a team on her behalf

together as a team on her behalf

together as a team on her behalf there’s a movement going on around the

there’s a movement going on around the

there’s a movement going on around the country and here at home where medical

country and here at home where medical

country and here at home where medical providers are increasing their ability

providers are increasing their ability

providers are increasing their ability to identify and assess the behavioral

to identify and assess the behavioral

to identify and assess the behavioral health needs of those that come to them

health needs of those that come to them

health needs of those that come to them for care also they’re increasing their

for care also they’re increasing their

for care also they’re increasing their ability to provide treatment for those

ability to provide treatment for those

ability to provide treatment for those behavioral health needs

behavioral health needs

behavioral health needs coinciding with those changes are

coinciding with those changes are

coinciding with those changes are changes that are happening in to

changes that are happening in to

changes that are happening in to behavioral health system where

behavioral health system where

behavioral health system where behavioral health providers are

behavioral health providers are

behavioral health providers are increasing their ability to recognize

increasing their ability to recognize

increasing their ability to recognize the medical conditions

the medical conditions

the medical conditions of those that come to them for

of those that come to them for

of those that come to them for behavioral healthcare and they’re

behavioral healthcare and they’re

behavioral healthcare and they’re increasing their ability to treat those

increasing their ability to treat those

increasing their ability to treat those needs either within their own practices

needs either within their own practices

needs either within their own practices or in partnerships with other medical

or in partnerships with other medical

or in partnerships with other medical providers and so you can begin to see

providers and so you can begin to see

providers and so you can begin to see we’re trying to aspire to create this no

we’re trying to aspire to create this no

we’re trying to aspire to create this no wrong door system in order to get the

wrong door system in order to get the

wrong door system in order to get the care that’s required for your whole

care that’s required for your whole

care that’s required for your whole person it’s estimated by the American

person it’s estimated by the American

person it’s estimated by the American Psychiatric Association that one-third

Psychiatric Association that one-third

Psychiatric Association that one-third of all adults that are receiving medical

of all adults that are receiving medical

of all adults that are receiving medical care also have a paper behavioral health

care also have a paper behavioral health

care also have a paper behavioral health condition such as depression or anxiety

condition such as depression or anxiety

condition such as depression or anxiety if there are 300 of us here today that

if there are 300 of us here today that

if there are 300 of us here today that means a hundred of us are facing these

means a hundred of us are facing these

means a hundred of us are facing these challenges a third of the neighbors in

challenges a third of the neighbors in

challenges a third of the neighbors in your neighborhood a third of the

your neighborhood a third of the

your neighborhood a third of the students in our schools

students in our schools

students in our schools additionally 70% of people who are

additionally 70% of people who are

additionally 70% of people who are receiving behavioral health care also

receiving behavioral health care also

receiving behavioral health care also have a coinciding medical condition so

have a coinciding medical condition so

have a coinciding medical condition so this can range from persistent headaches

this can range from persistent headaches

this can range from persistent headaches to insomnia to more chronic conditions

to insomnia to more chronic conditions

to insomnia to more chronic conditions such as diabetes and guess what an

such as diabetes and guess what an

such as diabetes and guess what an integrated care approach will not cost

integrated care approach will not cost

integrated care approach will not cost more money in fact we think it will not

more money in fact we think it will not

more money in fact we think it will not only dramatically improve care but it

only dramatically improve care but it

only dramatically improve care but it will do so at a lower cost

will do so at a lower cost

will do so at a lower cost it’s estimated that an integrated care

it’s estimated that an integrated care

it’s estimated that an integrated care approach will save commercial insurers

approach will save commercial insurers

approach will save commercial insurers Medicaid and Medicare 26 to 48 billion

Medicaid and Medicare 26 to 48 billion

Medicaid and Medicare 26 to 48 billion dollars a year just in our country alone

dollars a year just in our country alone

dollars a year just in our country alone how is this possible

how is this possible

how is this possible well it’s possible because when people

well it’s possible because when people

well it’s possible because when people get all the care they need when they

get all the care they need when they

get all the care they need when they need it in the communities in which they

need it in the communities in which they

need it in the communities in which they live they’re able to avoid those higher

live they’re able to avoid those higher

live they’re able to avoid those higher cost stays in emergency rooms and

cost stays in emergency rooms and

cost stays in emergency rooms and hospital beds and other institutional

hospital beds and other institutional

hospital beds and other institutional settings again likely at the least

settings again likely at the least

settings again likely at the least effective care for them in the long run

effective care for them in the long run

effective care for them in the long run we can do so much better

we can do so much better

we can do so much better for those of us that have heart disease

for those of us that have heart disease

for those of us that have heart disease and also suffer from depression and we

and also suffer from depression and we

and also suffer from depression and we can do so much better for those of us

can do so much better for those of us

can do so much better for those of us that face mental health challenges and

that face mental health challenges and

that face mental health challenges and need specialized assistance in order to

need specialized assistance in order to

need specialized assistance in order to care for conditions such as diabetes and

care for conditions such as diabetes and

care for conditions such as diabetes and we sure don’t need nitroglycerin to be

we sure don’t need nitroglycerin to be

we sure don’t need nitroglycerin to be put under our tongue to know that now is

put under our tongue to know that now is

put under our tongue to know that now is the time to begin to make these changes

we can begin to work together as a

we can begin to work together as a community asking individuals to join in

community asking individuals to join in

community asking individuals to join in together with us in order to face these

together with us in order to face these

together with us in order to face these issues not just alone but together core

issues not just alone but together core

issues not just alone but together core issues that we face in our communities

issues that we face in our communities

issues that we face in our communities such as chronic homelessness addiction

such as chronic homelessness addiction

such as chronic homelessness addiction and mental illness for example in the

and mental illness for example in the

and mental illness for example in the city of Everett the city is partnering

city of Everett the city is partnering

city of Everett the city is partnering with law enforcement medical providers

with law enforcement medical providers

with law enforcement medical providers mental health providers addiction

mental health providers addiction

mental health providers addiction treatment providers low-income housing

treatment providers low-income housing

treatment providers low-income housing providers and social service providers

providers and social service providers

providers and social service providers in order to create comprehensive care

in order to create comprehensive care

in order to create comprehensive care plans to help with a chronic homeless in

plans to help with a chronic homeless in

plans to help with a chronic homeless in our community all of us bringing our

our community all of us bringing our

our community all of us bringing our expertise to the table and developing

expertise to the table and developing

expertise to the table and developing holistic care plans one by one to help

holistic care plans one by one to help

holistic care plans one by one to help these communities rise up off of the

these communities rise up off of the

these communities rise up off of the streets get a place to live get a job

streets get a place to live get a job

streets get a place to live get a job and rejoin us as community members if

and rejoin us as community members if

and rejoin us as community members if you know someone that could benefit from

you know someone that could benefit from

you know someone that could benefit from an indicator integrated care approach

an indicator integrated care approach

an indicator integrated care approach would you suggest the resource because

would you suggest the resource because

would you suggest the resource because they do exist the Everett clinic for

they do exist the Everett clinic for

they do exist the Everett clinic for example provides behavioral health

example provides behavioral health

example provides behavioral health treatment to those to whom they also

treatment to those to whom they also

treatment to those to whom they also provide medical care and a compass

provide medical care and a compass

provide medical care and a compass health we are beginning to more and more

health we are beginning to more and more

health we are beginning to more and more provide medical care to those that come

provide medical care to those that come

provide medical care to those that come to us for behavioral health care we

to us for behavioral health care we

to us for behavioral health care we don’t have to stay stuck in the system

don’t have to stay stuck in the system

don’t have to stay stuck in the system that isolates us from the care that we

that isolates us from the care that we

that isolates us from the care that we need and we can imagine and we can

need and we can imagine and we can

need and we can imagine and we can envision what it would begin to look

envision what it would begin to look

envision what it would begin to look like if integrated whole person care

like if integrated whole person care

like if integrated whole person care were widely practiced in our communities

were widely practiced in our communities

were widely practiced in our communities people who are frozen in their situation

people who are frozen in their situation

people who are frozen in their situation having their suffering eased and

having their suffering eased and

having their suffering eased and regaining their lives of emotional

regaining their lives of emotional

regaining their lives of emotional richness again the homeless having all

richness again the homeless having all

richness again the homeless having all the systems come together and

the systems come together and

the systems come together and approaching them with a whole person

approaching them with a whole person

approaching them with a whole person care approach that really allows them

care approach that really allows them

care approach that really allows them the best opportunity possible to get off

the best opportunity possible to get off

the best opportunity possible to get off the streets get into treatment get a

the streets get into treatment get a

the streets get into treatment get a place to live

place to live

place to live and begin that road of recovery to a

and begin that road of recovery to a

and begin that road of recovery to a life that’s full of purpose parents who

life that’s full of purpose parents who

life that’s full of purpose parents who are ill and addicted

are ill and addicted

are ill and addicted getting there suffering ease so that

getting there suffering ease so that

getting there suffering ease so that they can be the parents that their

they can be the parents that their

they can be the parents that their children need them to be to move beyond

children need them to be to move beyond

children need them to be to move beyond the hopelessness despair and anger and

the hopelessness despair and anger and

the hopelessness despair and anger and regain the confidence and enthusiasm to

regain the confidence and enthusiasm to

regain the confidence and enthusiasm to raise their kids I think this is our

raise their kids I think this is our

raise their kids I think this is our best shot at attacking the opioid crisis

best shot at attacking the opioid crisis

best shot at attacking the opioid crisis both across the country and here at home

both across the country and here at home

both across the country and here at home so many people with opioid addictions

so many people with opioid addictions

so many people with opioid addictions have everything going on they have

have everything going on they have

have everything going on they have medical challenges addiction challenges

medical challenges addiction challenges

medical challenges addiction challenges mental health challenges basic need

mental health challenges basic need

mental health challenges basic need challenges and unless we come together

challenges and unless we come together

challenges and unless we come together and bring forward an approach that

and bring forward an approach that

and bring forward an approach that addresses all those needs I don’t think

addresses all those needs I don’t think

addresses all those needs I don’t think we’re going to make any progress in

we’re going to make any progress in

we’re going to make any progress in terms of helping them as individual or

terms of helping them as individual or

terms of helping them as individual or in attacking the problem as a whole a

in attacking the problem as a whole a

in attacking the problem as a whole a friend of mine told me about an

friend of mine told me about an

friend of mine told me about an experience that some have when they’re

experience that some have when they’re

experience that some have when they’re receiving treatment for AIDS it’s called

receiving treatment for AIDS it’s called

receiving treatment for AIDS it’s called the Lazarus effect and in the treatment

the Lazarus effect and in the treatment

the Lazarus effect and in the treatment process they move from being frail

process they move from being frail

process they move from being frail skeletons and then they rise up out of

skeletons and then they rise up out of

skeletons and then they rise up out of that process the perfect pictures of

that process the perfect pictures of

that process the perfect pictures of health I’ve seen this happen at compass

health I’ve seen this happen at compass

health I’ve seen this happen at compass health people come to us and they’re at

health people come to us and they’re at

health people come to us and they’re at the end of their rope they don’t have a

the end of their rope they don’t have a

the end of their rope they don’t have a home they’re ill they have mental health

home they’re ill they have mental health

home they’re ill they have mental health challenges they have addictions and they

challenges they have addictions and they

challenges they have addictions and they don’t have any hope but when we’re able

don’t have any hope but when we’re able

don’t have any hope but when we’re able to embrace them as a whole person we

to embrace them as a whole person we

to embrace them as a whole person we give them that best opportunity to raise

give them that best opportunity to raise

give them that best opportunity to raise them up and have that experience to

them up and have that experience to

them up and have that experience to regain lives that are full of recovery

regain lives that are full of recovery

regain lives that are full of recovery and purpose and so I ask that you join

and purpose and so I ask that you join

and purpose and so I ask that you join me in shaping and sharing a new future

me in shaping and sharing a new future

me in shaping and sharing a new future of health that treats the whole person

of health that treats the whole person

of health that treats the whole person and gives all of us the best opportunity

and gives all of us the best opportunity

and gives all of us the best opportunity to live lives that are full of good

to live lives that are full of good

to live lives that are full of good health and happiness thank you

health and happiness thank you

health and happiness thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

”

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