Herkimer County HealthNet & Bassett Healthcare Network Partner to Increase Access to Mental Health Services in Herkimer County

February 3, 2012

Herkimer, NY – Herkimer County HealthNet has provided funds to Bassett Healthcare Network to develop and submit grant applications to local foundation sources to expand the supply of mental health professionals locally in Herkimer County.

The proposed project would recruit a full-time mental health practitioner to the Bassett Healthcare Network’s Herkimer Health Center. The practitioner will train and support the health center’s primary care team in performing initial screenings for mental or behavioral health issues, provide more comprehensive screenings and provide direct care services in the health center. They will also make referrals to prescribers and/or psychiatrists as needed.

Bassett Medical Center Chief of Psychiatry Dr. Celeste Johns said, “There is a tremendous unmet need for quality mental health services across Central New York, and so we’re appreciative that HealthNet has made this a priority in Herkimer County by providing the seed money to get this effort off the ground.”

The proposal is modeled after a project Bassett is implementing in Schoharie County, and works to improve the integration of physical and behavioral health care and to improve the coordination and collaboration among primary care and behavioral health care providers. The Schoharie County project has been awarded a multi-year grant by the New York State Office of Mental Health.

“Herkimer County HealthNet is proud to be able to partner with Bassett in this effort. Both Herkimer County HealthNet and Bassett Healthcare Network recognize the importance of increasing access to quality healthcare in Herkimer County,” Adam Hutchinson, Executive Director of Herkimer County HealthNet said. “This is a real opportunity to improve the health and well-being of those who live, work, play and learn in Herkimer County.”

Contact:
Adam Hutchinson, Executive Director
Herkimer County HealthNet, Inc.
Email: ahutchinson@herkimercounty.org
Phone: 315 867-1552

Contact:
Karen Huxtable-Hooker, Public & Media Relations Director
Bassett Healthcare Network
Email: karen.huxtable-hooker@bassett.org
Phone: 607-547-4581