Behavioral health services offered at base clinic

  • Published
  • By 66th Medical Squadron
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  A new program allows clinic patients here to receive behaviorally-based assistance through education, skill-building, self-management and home-based strategies, 66th Medical Squadron officials announced recently.

The Behavioral Health Optimization program is a resource available to active duty and retiree clinic patients, as well as their dependents, by placing psychologists and social workers in primary-care clinics in Air Force medical facilities.

"The program is to help with issues that don't necessarily warrant specialty care," said Mary Curlew, 66 MDS internal behavioral health consultant for BHOP. "However, since the program is geared to helping patients find the help they need early on through increased access and continuity of care, BHOP can assist with a referral to other providers or specialists to best match the service with the treatment desired."

The BHOP treatment model uses short, problem-focused consultations to help people deal with a variety of changes and challenges such as chronic pain, sleep problems, life events, smoking cessation, work or family stress, trauma reactions, as well as anxiety and depression.

One of BHOP's best features is that patients don't need a formal referral from their primary care manager to visit.

"The program is intended to be easily accessed by all," Curlew said. "I can see just about anyone who may be wondering if a change in their behaviors, habits, emotions or thoughts would help them get closer to being the person they want to be and feel better in their own skin."

She adds that the primary care team is dedicated to providing patients with a holistic approach to healthcare.

"I am another member of the primary care team."

Another benefit, she said, was that waiting times are reduced because the behavioral health consultants are located within the primary-care clinic.

BHOP offers a wide spectrum of help to patients who need it.

If a patient is facing a challenging life event or just feeling overwhelmed and needs a break - whatever the needs are - they can talk to their primary care manager about this service during their next visit.

Those interested may also contact the clinic call center at 781-225-6789, option 1, to schedule an appointment with a BHOP provider.