5 Questions: Medical and behavioral health care under one roof!
Winter Issue
Tabitha Johnson is Manager of the Southern Nevada Community Health Center’s Behavioral Health Clinic at 280 S. Decatur, Las Vegas. Following a recent open house for the clinic, the Minnesota native sat down with the Public Health Perspective for a Q&A about the long-anticipated expansion, in which an employee break room was converted into four therapy rooms and a room for group therapy.
Perspective:
Tell us about the recent open house.
Tabitha
The open house gave us the opportunity to highlight our expanded space at the Health District’s main location at Decatur. We will continue to provide behavioral health services to patients who are already established with Southern Nevada Community Health Center, or patients who are looking for a medical home, as we provide integrated care.
Perspective:
How is integrated care helpful for patients?
Tabitha
When a patient comes in for primary care services, we also screen the patient for depression. If a patient scores higher than average in that screening, we offer behavioral health services to further assess their condition and provide support and coping skills. We work closely with the medical team, including our dietician, as many of our patients have coexisting conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
Perspective:
What else can you tell us about your services?
Tabitha
We have a full-time and a part-time psychiatric nurse practitioner to provide psychiatric evaluations and medication management. We have licensed therapists who offer individual, family and couples therapy, both in-person and via telehealth. Patients can also get substance use counseling from licensed counselors.
Perspective:
Why is the expanded clinic important for Southern Nevada?
Tabitha
Nevada nationally ranks near the bottom in access to care and does not have an adequate number of behavioral health professionals to serve the population. We are doing our part to help, with our small but mighty team, to ensure that patients of the health center receive the integrated care that they deserve.
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