Integrating Telemental Healthcare with the Patient-Centered Medical Home Model.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this article is to discuss how telemental healthcare and the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) can be integrated to improve the quality of mental healthcare available.

METHODS

This article outlines the components of a PCMH, and how the needs of this type of system of care can benefit from telemental healthcare.

RESULTS

The princples of PCMHs are being increasingly promoted in a variety of settings. In order to fulfill these principles, mental heathcare must be a integral part of the care provided to patients within the PCMH. The mental healthcare workforce is inadequate to provide care for patients, particularly in rural and high-poverty areas. Telemental healthcare provides a means to extend mental health services to the PCMHs using a variety of models.

CONCLUSIONS

Telemental healthcare offers unique opportunities to bridge the need for mental healthcare integration in the PCMH for all patients.