WMCHC awarded grant for mental health services 

HONESDALE, PA — Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers (WMCHC) has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the Moses Taylor Foundation to support and expand its Integrated Behavioral Health Program. The funding will help increase access to mental health services by embedding behavioral health providers directly into primary care practices across WMCHC sites, the health center said.

“The Integration of Care—or IOC—model incorporates evidence-based physical and mental health treatments through a collaborative team approach,” said Tuhin Gupta, M.D., board-certified psychiatrist and medical director of integrated behavioral health for WMCHC. “Studies have shown that strong collaboration between physical and mental health care teams leads to significant improvement in overall health, patient satisfaction and quality of life measures.”

The care model ensures that patients receive coordinated, whole-person care by bringing mental health professionals, primary care providers and consulting psychiatrists together through the efforts of a behavioral health care manager.

“We are grateful to Moses Taylor Foundation for this investment in the health of our patients,” saidd WMCHC CEO Teresa Lacey. The funds would be used to expand behavioral health staffing and improve care coordination for patients facing behavioral health challenges.

Established WMCHC primary care patients experiencing depression or anxiety, who are dealing with an acute stressor or struggling to manage a chronic medical condition, can be referred for services by their primary care physician. Behavioral health providers are currently seeing patients in the following Family Health Centers: Carbondale, Forest City, Hamlin, Highland Physicians, Sterling Pediatrics and Honesdale Women’s Health.

To learn about all of WMCHC’s services and office locations, visit www.wmchc.net.