Testimonials

“I cannot say enough good things about this program and how it has helped to develop and implement the PC/BH Integration Program at the Gloucester Family Health Center (GFHC) located in Gloucester, MA. The GFHC is an entirely new health center, so we have had the opportunity to shape behavioral health services from the time the very first patient walked through the door of this new facility. I have found the course content that provided an overview of issues commonly treated in primary care, particularly anxiety disorders, chronic illnesses, chronic pain, substance abuse and screening tools to be particularly useful in our practice. Health behavior change strategies as taught in the context of this course, including the stages of change model, motivational interviewing and relaxation and sleep promotion skills provide the foundation for the interventions I use daily with patients. Dr. Blount’s course has also allowed me to speak with confidence and authority to the medical providers in the practice. Even now, one year after the completion of the course, I continue to comb through the course materials, handouts and articles for support and “supervision” as new and challenging situations arise. I highly recommend this course to anyone seeking the clinical knowledge to provide reputable behavioral health services in primary care!”

Lisa Schott, MSW, LISCW
Director of Integrated Services
Gloucester Family Health Center
September 2007 Participant

 

Primary Care Behavioral Health

Distance Learning

We have found that the program can be delivered very successfully to participants at a distance through web-based conferencing. In evaluations of the program there has been no difference in the ratings of participants who took the course at our main site in Worcester and those who took it at a remote location.

The Certificate Program in Primary Care Behavioral Health

There are two ways of participating in the PCBH course, by being part of a site with other participants, or as an individual using your own computer in your home or office. Sites have the advantage of allowing interaction with other participants, but individuals can still interact with the presenters via our webinar interface.

Interested sites should apply as soon as possible. UMass Medical School can assist in regional marketing efforts. As people inquire about the course, we will refer them to the nearest site. Sites are required to accept students interested in completing the program provided their room capacity has not been exceeded.

Each site will designate one person to be the contact for the course locally and to interact with the main site in Worcester.

Certificate Program for Care Managers and Navigators

Participants in the CMN course can participate as an individual using your own computer in your home/office or you may independently gather together as a group to take the course. However, given the shorter duration of the modules, interactive practice exercises such as role play are not a part of the curriculum; therefore participants can expect a similarly rich experience from group and individual viewing. If participants elect to view the modules together, it is not necessary to formalize the group by notifying UMass Medical School and the identification of a contact person is not necessary.

Technology Requirements for Distance Learning

The Certificate programs use Adobe Connect Professional, the best reviewed platform for web conferences. Connecting is easy and there is no software to buy. Each individual applicant or group site can have their system automatically diagnosed and updated through the links below.



Participating via your PC:

Adobe Connect only requires that you have:

  • Internet connection
  • A web browser (i.e. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Chrome)
  • Adobe Flash Player version 10.1 or greater

Adobe Connect supports nearly any operating system including:

  • Windows, Macintosh, Linux and Solaris

Course requirements:

  • Built-in or external speakers

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Best Practices for Participants

Adobe Connect Test Links

If you have never attended a Connect Pro meeting before:

Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/support/connect/gettingstarted/index.html


Test your connection: http://onlinetraining.umassmed.edu/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm


Directly connect to the fastest internet connection available, do not use wireless, it may cause for meeting interruptions. No wireless, no exceptions.