CHOP and Devereux team up for conference on integrating physical and behavioral healthcare

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia recently teamed up with Devereux to co-sponsor a conference - for the first time - on the importance of integrating mental and behavioral healthcare with physical care for children. Approximately 70 attendees from the medical community gathered at CHOP in late October for the conference.

The conference addressed some of the leading developmental and behavioral health concerns that pediatricians and primary care providers deal with every day. Devereux Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical/Medical Officer Yolanda Graham, M.D. presented a lecture on managing anxiety in the primary care setting.

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia(CHOP) recently teamed up with Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health to co-sponsor a conference – for the first time – on the importance of integrating mental and behavioral healthcare with physical care for children.

Approximately 70 attendees from the medical community, including physicians, nurses, physician assistants and clinical social workers gathered at CHOP in late October for the conference, titled “Developmental and Behavioral Health for the Pediatric Patient.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), information from the 2011-12 National Survey of Children’s Health showed that one out of seven children in the United States, between the ages of 2 and 8, had been diagnosed with a mental, behavioral or developmental disorder.

About the conference …

The conference addressed some of the leading developmental and behavioral health concerns that pediatricians and primary care providers deal with every day, including autism, ADHD/learning challenges, anxiety, depression, weight management and school problems.

Lectures held throughout the day focused on evidence-based treatments, medication management and resource suggestions. Topics included:

An overview of characteristics and best practices in autism treatment, presented by Devereux Executive Director of Autism Services Todd Harris, Ph.D.;
Learning differences and ADHD, presented by Marianne Glanzman, M.D., an attending physician at CHOP;
Pediatric depression in primary care, presented by Stacy McAllister, M.D., an attending physician/psychiatrist at CHOP;
Tips and challenges of managing anxiety in the primary care setting, presented by Devereux Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical/Medical Officer Yolanda Graham, M.D.;
Weight management and healthy living, presented by Saba Khan, M.D., an attending physician at CHOP; and
School problems related to peers, bullies and relational aggression, presented by Devereux Center for Effective Schools Director Barry McCurdy, Ph.D., NCSP, BCBA-D

“The conference was a huge success. I want to thank CHOP for sponsoring it with us, as well as the faculty, who shared valuable information and insights with all of our attendees,” said Devereux President and CEO Carl E. Clark II. “Whole-person-centered healthcare is critical for any child – and especially those who are dealing with mental or behavioral health issues. Our hope is that those in attendance were able to walk away with a deeper understanding of the most current practices and practical tips for caring for young patients with developmental or behavioral health needs in their primary care offices.”

Conference objectives

Everyone who took part in the daylong conference should be able to:

Identify common developmental and behavioral health symptoms that can appear in pediatric patients;
Identify common medical and mental health conditions that can occur with developmental or behavioral disorders and understand how they may impact the child’s functions; and
Identify resources that can be utilized in the office or shared with families to address developmental, behavioral or mental health concerns in children

Learn about Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.

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