Group practice approach to rural community mental health.

Confronted with the inability to offer access to trained mental health personnel to their remote rural community, a private medical group practice in California recruited and integrated psychiatric social workers in their clinic. The rapid acceptance of these newer mental health professionals by community members of all economic levels and by group physicians confirms the success of this program, now in its fourth year, and rising community interest in mental health services. The group practice prototype affords a unique opportunity for innovation in community health care delivery in outlying areas with their traditional difficulties in attracting health care professionals.