Registration is open for the April 21 WCHQ Assembly at Monona Terrace in Madison from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., which will focus on behavioral health. The keynote speaker is a nationally known expert on integrated behavioral health services in the primary care setting, Neftali Serrano, PsyD.

Dr. Serrano is CEO of the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting integrated care as the standard of care. Dr. Serrano is a leader in integrated behavioral health with more than 19 years’ experience practicing, consulting, and researching on the subject. He has devoted much of his career to working with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), starting integrated care programs and consulting with clinics in under-served settings to assist with implementing the primary care behavioral health (PCBH) model. Dr. Serrano's research interests include program development evaluations and outcome studies related to PCBH. In 2014, Dr. Serrano edited an e-book titled, “The Implementer’s Guide to Primary Care Behavioral Health,” a practice management handbook.

Several member organizations who participate in the WCHQ Behavioral Health Steering Team will present in the afternoon. They include:

Behavioral Health Treatment: Adolescents

• Monica Case, MBA, Director, Behavioral Health and Physical Rehab Services, UnityPoint Health – Meriter Hospital
• Howard Wiese, BSN, MSN, Nurse Manager, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Inpatient Unit, UnityPoint Health - Meriter
• Sarah Schlough, LCSW SAC, Program Supervisor, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Intensive Outpatient Services, UnityPoint Health – Meriter

Monica Case is currently the Director of Behavioral Health and Physical Rehab Services at UnityPoint Health – Meriter hospital in Madison Wisconsin. Case has been employed with Meriter for 15 years. She has worked in a variety of settings, including acute care hospitals, outpatient services and as a consultant. Case has previously held administrative and direct care positions in Iowa, New York and Pennsylvania. She began her career as an occupational therapist, providing care in inpatient rehab and adult psychiatry units and has worked in a variety of settings, including acute care hospitals, outpatient services and as a consultant.

Howard Wiese, BSN, MSN, is currently the Nurse Manager of UnityPoint – Meriter’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Inpatient Unit in Madison, WI. Wiese has worked as a registered nurse in the mental health field for 11 years, and he has been with UnityPoint Health since 2018. He started his career working in the adult psychiatry unit at St. Mary’s Hospital. He obtained a master’s degree from Edgewood College and spent a year teaching in their accelerated nursing program.

Sarah Schlough, LCSW SAC, is currently the Program Supervisor of Unity Point – Meriter’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Intensive Outpatient Services in Madison, WI. Schlough has worked with children and adults in the mental health field for 11 years. She began her career as a Mental Health Professional in the Dane County Jail, providing mental health services to incarcerated adults. Her additional experience includes working with youth and families, providing therapy both within the home and the clinic setting. Schlough has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a concentration in Substance Abuse from Edgewood College (Madison, WI), and she has a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin- Madison. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC) in the state of Wisconsin.

Treating Chronic Pain and Health Issues in the Context of Behavioral Health

• Michael Larsen, PhD, Marshfield Clinic Health System

A clinical psychologist in pain management, Dr. Michael Larson conducts comprehensive evaluations and provides pain management education and psychological treatment. He has a special interest in pain health psychology, depression and anxiety in the context of health or pain problems psychology of weight management, sleep difficulties and opioid medication management. Dr. Larson works with patients to find and treat the source of pain to improve their physical, emotional and occupational function. He aims to help patients and their families develop and achieve goals so they can return to an active and fulfilling life.

Telehealth: A Resource in Improving Access to Behavioral Health

• Jessica Small, PharmD, Vice President, Operations, Advocate Aurora Behavioral Health Services

Jessica Small has over 15 years of behavioral health leadership experience as both a service line leader and as a pharmacist. She has oversight of the operations for inpatient and ambulatory services across the state of Wisconsin. Advocate Aurora Behavioral Health Services offers the full continuum of care for behavioral health patients, including ambulatory and hospital-based services. As part of the comprehensive services provided within Advocate Aurora Behavioral Health Services, Jessica oversees its telepsychiatry program and the expansion efforts to help improve access to care for patients across the state.

Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) in the Clinical Setting

• Laura Sanders, MSSW, Great Lakes Addiction Technology and Transfer Center

Sanders is with UW-Madison, School of Engineering and is an independent consultant. She has designed, delivered and facilitated SBIRT training across multiple educational platforms since 2001. Representing the Great Lakes Addiction Technology and Transfer Center, she will explain the use of SBIRT in the clinical setting. SBIRT is a cost-saving, patient centered, one-on-one clinical prevention service. SBIRT interventions can be used to reduce risky drinking, identify individuals who need more intensive interventions and bolster the resolve of persons who are drinking within recommended guidelines. SBIRT interventions have proven to reduce injuries, ED visits, hospitalizations, arrests and car crashes.

Direct questions about the Assembly to Mary Kay Fahey. For information related to WCHQ’s Behavioral Health Steering Team, including how to join, contact Sarah Wright.

Jenifer Koberstein joined the WCHQ January 6 as the Oral Health Program Manager.  In her new position, Koberstein will work on the continued development of the WCHQ Oral Health Collaborative.

In 2017, WCHQ was approached by the Dental Quality Alliance at the American Dental Association to share its expertise in developing a collaborative, forming consensus around measures, and driving improvement for medical providers.  WCHQ, five dental members and other stakeholders have since collaborated to develop three quality measures which will be publicly reported later this year.

In her previous position, Koberstein was with Dental Lifeline Network, formally known as the National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped, where she led the program services department in new and existing initiatives. She also worked on special projects including prevention services to those with disabilities and providing educational resources to people about the connection between their medical conditions and their oral health. Prior to her time at Dental Lifeline, Koberstein spent more than 20 years working in the behavioral health field.

“We are excited to have Jen join our team. Her experience in both the medical and dental fields will help WCHQ staff and our members gain a better understanding on how to better integrate these services to deliver better, more affordable care that will help our patients live healthier lives,” said Chris Queram.

Let WCHQ help you reach your 2020 improvement goals. This is the perfect time of year to join a steering team. Currently, WCHQ has three steering teams up and running. To join, email the contact person below.

Behavioral Health Steering Team:

The Behavioral Health Steering Team meets monthly via webinar and twice a year in person. Members are currently working on a new depression screening toolkit, which includes a clinical and administrative workflow for easy adoption of depression screening and management. The toolkit is set to be released in Spring 2020. If you’re interested in joining the steering team, please contact Sarah Wright.

Chronic Disease Learning Collaborative:

The Chronic Disease Learning Collaborative meets monthly via webinar and covers a wide range of topics, including hypertension, diabetes, undiagnosed with hypertension, cholesterol management, and team-based care. Shared learning and dissemination of best practices helps members improve on their chronic disease quality metrics. The topic for the January 27th webinar is prediabetes with a presentation by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. If you’re interested in joining the steering team, please contact Sarah Wright.

Adolescent and Child Health:

The Adolescent and Child Health Steering Team meets monthly via webinar and covers several topics related to adolescent and child health, with focus on well-child visits and developmental screening. Upcoming meetings will focus on adolescent tobacco use and vaping, confidentiality for minor patients, and the CMS Child Core Measure Set. If you’re interested in joining the steering team, please contact Abbey Harburn.

Exploring Approaches and Achievements in Advancing Health Equity through Community Partnerships

The Wisconsin Partnership Program at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health will host Advancing Health Equity 2020 on April 15, 2020. This one-day conference will highlight how community-led partnerships are working to achieve health and health equity in Wisconsin.

• When: Wednesday, April 15, 2020
• Where: Madison Marriott West, 1313 John Q Hammons Dr., Middleton, WI 53562
• Schedule:

• 8:30 a.m. - Registration
• 9:00 a.m. - Conference
• 5:00 p.m. - Networking Reception

• Cost: None; The Wisconsin Partnership Program is pleased to present this conference free of charge.

Community-based nonprofits, students, faculty, public health organizations, health funders, policy
makers and others across the state are encouraged to attend to learn more about:

Community-led efforts to achieve health and health equity

• Experiences, best practices and common barriers in expanding health impact across Wisconsin
• How philanthropy can address health equity

The Wisconsin Partnership Program recognizes that our communities and state thrive when we build strong foundations for health. Learn how community-led partnerships are addressing health and health equity by strengthening the foundations for health through:

• Economic Stability
• Neighborhood and Built Environment
• Social and Community Context
• Education
• Access to Healthcare

The event provides an excellent opportunity to explore the many different approaches, challenges and opportunities for achieving health equity, from the perspectives of community organizations, health systems and academic partners. View the conference schedule and registration information here.

The Wisconsin Partnership Program at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health is committed to improving health and well-being through investments in community partnerships, education and research. The Wisconsin Partnership Program was established at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health in 2004, through an endowment gift from Blue Cross Blue Shield United of Wisconsin’s conversion to a stock insurance corporation. To date, the Wisconsin Partnership Program has awarded more than 500 research, education and community partnership grants totaling more than $237 million to improve health and advance health equity in Wisconsin.