Premature death of public health clients: Need for social work practice that links specialty and primary care

Recent research shows that public mental health clients dies 25 years younger than other Americans because they do not receive appropriate care. Major sources of these health problems include lifestyle factors, lack of hope, and the metabolic syndrome. This presentation will review the findings from this research; examine implications for new integrated service delivery systems that span specialty, primary and human services; and highlight the key role that social work can play in improving the quality of care delivered to this population. Attention to this issue is urgent, since National Health and Health Care Reform will be taking up system reform through consideration of medical/health home models. Social work must be at the table in the national debate and in the community leading major care integration efforts.