Oregon.gov published an article last week (see link below) highlighting the new and progressive way Deschutes County’s Health Services Department is now working with behavioral health clients.

It is known that people with serious mental illness die 25 years earlier than others, largely due to treatable medical conditions. The state’s article says that adults who have a serious mental illness are more likely to have other illnesses such as high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Deschutes County’s Behavioral Health Assertive Community Treatment Supervisor Travis Sammon now helps coordinate mental and physical patient care-and all in one location. Peer Support Specialist Patricia von Riedl assists him.

Deschutes County Health Services and Mosaic Medical are now partnering to give the two-pronged approach in care to behavioral health clients at one location in Bend. The results of the combined-care model are already beginning to show positive results in less deaths per month of people with severe mental illness. You can read the entire article here:

www.oregon.gov/oha/Pages/features/2013-0214-dchs.aspx