Listen to this articleThe basics:
- First integrated primary and behavioral health center for I/DD and autism in New Jersey
- Collaboration between Woods System of Care and RWJBarnabas Health
- Services include wellness visits, chronic disease management, therapy, specialist access
- Focus on reducing ER visits, improving health outcomes, supporting youth transitioning to adult care
There’s a new care option in South Jersey for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism: The Woods Primary and Behavioral Health Center at Hamilton.
Developed by Woods System of Care and RWJBarnabas Health, the integrated clinic is the first of its kind in the state, according to the partners.
The Mercer County office aims to bring a new model of specialized care to the region. According to a Dec. 10 announcement celebrating the debut, The Woods Primary and Behavioral Health Center at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton will work to close gaps in health care access for this underserved population.
The collaboration brings together two giants in the space. Woods System of Care says it is the largest provider of services for individuals with I/DD. Meanwhile, RWJBarnabas holds distinction as New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system.
The center takes inspiration from the nationally recognized Medical Center at Woods in Pennsylvania. Since debuting in 2018, Woods says the model has demonstrated a 20% reduction in emergency room visits and a nearly 4% decrease in hospitalizations. Additionally, the provider cited improvements to overall health outcomes and significant Medicaid and Medicare savings.
The right care, the right setting
In New Jersey, the partners say they aim to reduce pressure on local ERs. In addition to alleviating volume at these points of care, the work also helps ensure people with these complex medical, behavioral needs or those with I/DD receive the right care in the right setting.
Hamilton will coordinate services tailored to the needs of people with I/DD and autism, such as:
- Annual physicals and wellness visits
- Immunizations and preventive screenings
- Chronic disease management
- Behavioral health and psychiatric evaluations
- Therapy and medication management
- Care related to COVID-19
- Seamless access to specialists within the RWJBarnabas Hamilton Hospital network
“We could not do what we do in the community without a hospital partner,” said Woods System of Care President and CEO Tine Hansen-Turton. “Being able to partner with RWJBarnabas Health System enables us to provide the full care continuum from primary and behavioral health all the way into allied health, hospitalization, and specialists.”
RWJUH Hamilton Chief Administrative Officer Lisa Breza added the model aligns “perfectly” with the facility’s nursing model of patient-centered care. Last month, the facility also introduced a new helistop.
Woods and RWJBarnabas said the new clinic also has a central focus on supporting youth with I/DD and autism as they transition from pediatric to adult health care. The Woods at Hamilton will also partner with developmental pediatric specialists – including Children’s Specialized Hospital – to help ensure continuous access to primary and behavioral health services throughout adulthood, they said.
