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Students begin training in integrated health care

The UNC School of Social Work’s recently funded HRSA training grant, called PrimeCare, kicked off its student seminar series on Jan. 13. Over the next three years, the funded schools will prepare over 90 MSW students to work in primary care integrated health settings with children, adolescents and young adults.

This first seminar topic, “Framing Integrated Care in the Changing Health Care Environment,” was presented by Drs. Cathy Hudgins and Christine Borst, executive director and associate executive director of the N.C. Center of Excellence for Integrated Care. In addition to defining core components and explaining the rationale for integrated care, Hudgins and Borst also discussed current trends and challenges in implementing integrated care across the U.S. and North Carolina. “Integrating health care has been shown to lower costs, improve coordination of services, and significantly increase patient satisfaction with their health care experience,” said Hudgins.

Over 30 students from the UNC School of Social Work and NCSU and UNC-Greensboro departments of social work attended the seminar. The next seminar is scheduled for February 17 and will be about using psychotropic medications with children and adolescents.

Story by Clinical Professor Anne Jones