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Mindful practice is about applying skills that improve our relationships with patients. It requires self-awareness, active listening and responding to the patient’s emotions. When we ask patients about their values, expectations and competencies and see them in the context of their current lives, we do better at treating the whole person and avoiding medical errors. Better alliances with patients lead to more engagement in prevention and wellness, less attrition, fewer hospitalizations and lower overall care costs. Integration Isn?t Enough: Mindful Practice Needed in SPMI Healthcare | The National Psychologist
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This articles reports on a Denver community mental health center's goal to integrate behavioral and primary care services for severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) individuals. Denver determined the "... separation of our behavioral and physical health provision systems makes them nearly impossible [for SPMI] to navigate."
The author concludes:
To fully realize the promise of integrated care for SPMI health outcomes, we need to advance mindful practice. Together with integration, mindful practice has the potential to turn our sick-care system into a well-care one.
I welcome this approach.