Welcome to my blog, where you will learn more about me as both an individual and an integrated behavioral health leader. My hope is that in addition to getting to know me, that you will leave this space with a greater understanding of the important role integrated behavioral health plays in not just my patients’ lives but all participants in our healthcare system. As you will come to learn, integrated behavioral health benefits all of us. It provides healthcare systems with a model for better serving and improving patient access to quality healthcare.
My ability to support these efforts is primarily due to my doctoral level education and experience working in integrated behavioral health settings. While my professional experiences have played a vital role in helping me develop two successful behavioral health clinics and consulting to and leading behavioral health systems throughout the Washington-Baltimore region, my doctorate degree in behavioral health took my skills and expertise to a higher level.
Through my education, I have been provided with expert knowledge on how to conduct myself as an integrated behavioral health leader, clinician, entrepreneur, and thought leader. One of the skills that has shaped me as a leader is the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with my colleagues from other specialties or care backgrounds.
When I first started my behavioral health clinic, I knew that it would be important to have a variety of clinicians on my team. In addition to psychologists, it was necessary to have primary care physicians, nurses, physician assistants, behavioral technicians, board-certified behavior analysts, and patient care technicians. To ensure that we could all best serve the patients who needed clinical support from all or some of us, it was imperative that we clearly communicate patient needs and circumstances with each other.
Punctuality– but more importantly, a respect for people’s time– is another important takeaway from my doctoral education that has benefitted me as an integrated behavioral health leader and entrepreneur. At both my clinics and the hospitals I consult to, patients and staff often remark that I am rarely ever late to an appointment.
Why is this important? Because when a patient feels that they are valued and their time is meaningful, they are more likely to listen to your treatment recommendations and follow them more closely. This is reflected in the reviews I consistently receive at my clinics, as well as the integrated behavioral health systems I have helped build and manage.
If you are interested in visiting my clinics for services or hiring me to consult your healthcare system, I hope that in reading this blog, you will understand my passion for providing quality integrated behavioral healthcare to the communities I love.
For a helpful resource on integrated behavioral health and how it benefits you, checkout this page on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s website: https://integrationacademy.ahrq.gov/about/integrated-behavioral-health.
**This blog post was completed for one of my doctor of behavioral health courses.**