This conference was presented by two faculty from the Center for Integrative Medicine, Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan:

• Presenter: R. Corey Waller, MD, MS, medical director
• Facilitator: Shelly Virva, LMSW, CSW, therapist

Day one focused on creating integrated systems of care and new payment models for patients with high emergency department use due to addiction, opioid dependence, and/or severe mental illness. Participants learned how the Center for Integrative Medicine set up a patient-centered and sustainable model for high utilizers of emergency departments, integrated addiction and mental health treatment into primary care, and lowered emergency department visits by over 50%. The content was designed for leaders from health plans, public health systems, community clinics, mental health and substance use treatment clinics, as well as interested state policy staff.

Day two offered a deeper dive into the Center for Integrative Medicine care model. Topics included the neurobiology of addiction, trauma-informed care, techniques to increase patient engagement and activation, preventing burn-out, and creating high-touch but lean workflows. The content was designed for clinicians in primary care, mental health, addiction treatment, and/or complex care management, as well as health plan leaders looking to develop new integrated models.

Related materials, references, and reading are available below.