Programs

Behavioral Science is an integral part of the SIU Department of Family and Community Medicine at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Behavioral Science faculty includes social workers, counselors, educators and psychologists who are involved with students, family medicine residents and the profession of family medicine in teaching behavioral science as it applies to family medicine. Our involvement also includes developing creative and innovative teaching strategies, providing clinic service to family medicine patients and conducting research in family medicine, behavioral science, medical education and related areas as well as consulting with the provider network and building community-based coalitions and collaborations.

Each residency in the Department is assembling documentation that would allow them to be recognized by the National Council on Quality Assurance as Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). This recognition assures our patients that they are receiving quality health care provided in a patient centered environment. In the future, both public and private insurance companies will provide incentive bonuses to medical practices that adhere to NCQA standards for PCMH. Behaviorists throughout the department are involved in various ways: assisting with the applications; teaching about the principles of PCMH; or implementing principles of PCMH.