A new healthcare clinic focused on serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and autism has opened in Hamilton, New Jersey. The Woods Primary and Behavioral Health Center at Hamilton is the result of a partnership between RWJBarnabas Health and Woods System of Care.
The center is the first integrated clinic of its kind in New Jersey. It aims to address longstanding gaps in healthcare access for people with I/DD and autism by providing coordinated primary and behavioral health services. RWJBarnabas Health is the largest academic health system in New Jersey, while Woods System of Care is a leading provider of services for individuals with I/DD.
Frank A. Ghinassi, senior vice president of Behavioral Health Services at RWJBarnabas Health and president and chief executive of Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, said, “This population has had a very challenging time seeking services in traditional settings not designed with their needs in mind, and that unmet need is now beginning to be addressed here. This project shows what can happen when organizations come together with a shared purpose to remove barriers and innovate, blending physical and behavioral health care while creating an opportunity to advance the research mission at Rutgers— a tremendous example of how RWJBarnabas Health partners with community-based programs to better serve all patients.”
Tine Hansen-Turton, President and CEO of Woods System of Care, added, “We could not do what we do in the community without a hospital partner. 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.”
Lisa Breza, Chief Administrative Officer at RWJUH Hamilton, said, “By drawing off Woods System of Care’s long, meaningful history and experience, this model also aligns perfectly with RWJUH Hamilton’s nursing care model of patient-centered care.”
The new center draws inspiration from the Medical Center at Woods in Pennsylvania. That facility was the first integrated primary and behavioral health center for people with I/DD in the country. The Pennsylvania model led to significant improvements: emergency room visits dropped by more than 20 percent while hospitalizations decreased by nearly 40 percent.
Services offered at the Hamilton clinic include annual physicals, wellness visits, immunizations, preventative screenings, chronic disease management, behavioral health evaluations, therapy, medication management, COVID-19-related care, as well as access to specialists within the RWJBarnabas network.
A major focus will be helping youth with I/DD or autism transition from pediatric to adult healthcare through partnerships with developmental pediatric specialists.
Mark Williams, Chair of the Woods System of Care Board of Trustees stated: “Moving people from the margins of treatment and society into the forefront and the mainstream is something that has been a long time coming.”
The center also aims to reduce pressure on local emergency departments by providing specialized care tailored for people with I/DD before crises arise.
RWJBarnabas Health cares for over five million people annually across 14 hospitals through more than 700 patient care locations statewide. The organization employs over 45,000 people.
Woods System of Care manages lifelong support services for those with intellectual disabilities or complex medical needs through its network of affiliates.
The Woods Primary and Behavioral Health Center at Hamilton is now open for appointments.
