INARF Conference Partner Offers Specialized Track at Conference Emphasizing the Integration of Health and Psychiatric Treatments

By Deceil Moore, Meridian Health Services 

Our collective responsibility as professionals in the field of developmental disabilities has always been to understand and assist the persons we serve in meeting their needs. Despite our best intentions and efforts, the fact remains that some needs may take priority over others depending on the individual's location and which expert he is working with at the time. There are benefits and challenges inherent in the current health care trend toward more integrated care, where each area of a person's health (physical, developmental, mental, and social) is considered in the treatment of the whole person. 

As part of an exclusive partnership with INARF, Meridian Health Services is proud to sponsor a dedicated track at the 2013 INARF Annual Conference highlighting the cutting edge work toward realizing the benefits and meeting the challenges of physical, developmental, and psychiatric care integration. The track features two innovative speakers who will address issues pertinent to managing the health of the whole person: 

Dr. Ann Poindexter comes from Arkansas with a strong background in medical and psychiatric care giving systems. Her presentation will address how to recognize when medical conditions mimic psychiatric symptoms and the symptoms to be aware of when serving persons with dual diagnosis. She will also discuss best practices for care wtih a whole-person centered philosophy. 

Sherrie Peters comes from Georgetown University's Center for Child and Human Development and will speak on the emerging topics of Medical Homes and Health Homes. The focus of her presentation includes an understanding of the impact Medical Homes and Health Homes will have on our daily operations and the ways we assess our own needs and the needs of the people we serve. 

INARF and Meridian Health Services are proud to LinkIN to provide the best in dual-diagnosis information as we all look to the future and seek to constantly improve what we do. Join us for the Meridian Health Services Dual-Diagnosis Track at the INARF Annual Conference to learn more!