Cherokee Health Systems Receives Quality Achievement Honor

September 16, 2015 · NCQA

“The Promise of Whole Patient Care.”

Cherokee Health Systems (CHS) has a unique approach to blending behavioral services with primary care. This concept of integrated service delivers “the promise of whole patient care.”

Dr. Febe Wallace, of CHS, says physicians can’t help their patients with physical health issues without also considering behavioral health, spiritual health, and home-life issues.

Cherokee started as a single behavioral care practice. Today there are 18 primary care locations, half are patient-centered medical homes (PCMH) and all offer behavior care services.

However, there are many challenges in serving the East Tennessee population, including significant numbers of patients who need health education, homelessness in Knoxville, and the growing number of migrant farmworkers.

CHS is hopeful payers will further fund integrated care and operate on the premise that the promise of integrated care is just what east Tennessee needs.