Community Care to Receive Gold Achievement Award From the American Psychiatric Association

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Community Care Behavioral Health Organization will receive a 2013 Gold Achievement Award from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) at its 65^th annual Institute on Psychiatric Services in Philadelphia.

Community Care, which is part of the UPMC Insurance Services Division, was recognized for its support of shared decision making in mental health and substance use disorder programs. Advancement in shared decision making for improving the quality of health care is a focus in the Affordable Care Act.

Community Care has supported the implementation and operation of CommonGround, a unique software program designed by Patricia Deegan, Ph.D., that provides for shared decision making in psychiatric medication clinics. Its use is facilitated by peer-run decision support centers (DSCs) in, primarily, outpatient mental health centers.

In order to train and support these mental health centers, several Community Care staff members have been trained by Pat Deegan and Associates (PDA). PDA provides ongoing training and consultation as well as an opportunity for providers to share their expertise. Community Care also sponsors webinars for DSCs in Pennsylvania to provide ongoing support on a quarterly basis.

"This initiative encourages self-determination of individuals receiving services, provides access to peer support, empowers individuals in their recovery and enhances collaborative relationships between practitioners and members," said Dr. James Schuster, chief medical officer at Community Care. "We are proud to be a leader of implementing shared decision making initiatives along with other programs that promote wellness and recovery."

Community Care has implemented DSCs with CommonGround in 12 locations across Pennsylvania and has plans to add several additional sites. Individuals who use CommonGround report improvements in health functioning, symptoms, and progress in their recovery. In addition, over time, they report fewer concerns about the side effects of medications. Using personal strategies along with medications to enhance wellness is related to the belief that medication is helpful. 

The American Psychiatric Association, the world's largest psychiatric organization, will present achievement awards to four mental health programs on Oct. 10, 2013, at the 65th Institute on Psychiatric Services in Philadelphia. Descriptions of the award-winning programs appear in the October issue of Psychiatric Services, a journal of the APA.

About Community Care

Community Care Behavioral Health Organization, a nonprofit, tax-exempt recovery-focused behavioral health managed care organization headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, manages mental health and substance use disorder services for approximately 750,000 Medical Assistance recipients in Pennsylvania. Community Care also serves as the behavioral health organization for the Hudson River Region of New York State. Part of UPMC, Community Care was incorporated in 1996 with a mission to improve the health and well-being of the community through the delivery of effective and accessible behavioral health services. Visit Community Care at www.ccbh.com.

About the American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association is a national medical specialty society whose physician members specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses, including substance use disorders. Visit the APA at www.psych.org and www.HealthyMinds.org  and for information on APA online publications at http://psychiatryonline.org.

SOURCE Community Care