2023 Survey Sheds Light on Whole-Person Care Integration Trends in Health Care

In collaboration with NextGen Healthcare, OPEN MINDS recently released the 2023 National Survey findings on “Healthcare Integration in Behavioral Health, Intellectual/Developmental Disability (I/DD), and Human Services,” which gives insights into the state of whole-person care in the nation.

The survey, built on similar studies from 2022 and 2020, showcases the rapid acceleration toward whole-person integrated care. A significant 58% of responding organizations have initiated or fully integrated their practices with primary care services. Notably, 35% are pursuing coordination and referral models with community health care partners, while 28% opt for full integration through a staffing or employee model.

Social Drivers (or Determinants) of Health (SDOH) retain a crucial focus, consistent with previous results with 61% of respondents integrating SDOH protocols, with varying levels of integration across providers, with I/DD organizations having the lowest level of integration at 40%. The most common barrier to SDOH integration reported is a lack of staff experience and capacity to implement into the care model.

The survey reveals the emergence of complex care as a distinct industry, with 54% developing specialized integration teams for high-risk/high-cost members. Meanwhile, 49% implement programs targeting inappropriate frequency of emergency department and inpatient visits. The demand for advanced technologies in whole-person care management is on the rise, with 60% implementing population health tools. The survey highlights consistent perceived barriers to whole-person care adoption, with 44% prioritizing financial sustainability, 39% emphasizing workflow improvement and increased efficiencies, and 35% focusing on workforce development.