Inspira, RowanSOM partner to provide quality behavioral health care in South Jersey area

Inspira Health Network is pleased to announce a new partnership with Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM) for its behavioral health programs in Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. The partnership blends the nationally-recognized expertise of RowanSOM's physicians with Inspira's comprehensive programs to provide patients in the South Jersey area with quality behavioral health care.

"Inspira has provided the region with access to critical behavioral health services for more than 30 years through various programs which have evolved to meet the mental and emotional health needs of our communities," said John DiAngelo, president and CEO of Inspira Health Network. "Our partnership with Rowan's School of Osteopathic Medicine marks the next evolution in the care we provide by bringing advanced clinical expertise to our patients and creating opportunities to educate and train the physicians of tomorrow."

Inspira has been a major clinical affiliate of RowanSOM since 2012. The new joint commitment between the two organizations brings forth opportunities to develop additional behavioral health programs in southern New Jersey, caring for the full life cycle from children all the way through older adults.

"In today's world, access to mental and behavioral health services is a critical element of a community's overall well-being," said Dr. Thomas A. Cavalieri, the dean of RowanSOM. "We are proud to partner RowanSOM's long history of excellence in medical education and behavioral health care with Inspira Health Network to expand access for South Jersey residents to these essential services."

Additional benefits of the partnership include:

• Care provided by psychiatrists from a nationally recognized program, including international recognition for its interdisciplinary services for the elderly through the NJ Institute for Successful Aging, and for children through its Child Abuse Research Education and Service Institute;
• Increased coverage through rotations by RowanSOM psychiatric residents in addition to psychiatrist physician staffing;
• Development of a Behavioral Health Quality Committee that would be staffed by both RowanSOM personnel as well as Inspira that will drive quality enhancements, evidenced based medicine as well as outcome measurements throughout various programs.

Inspira also maintains a partnership with The Center for Family Guidance for its therapeutic nursery, child and adolescent partial hospital and intensive outpatient programs in Bridgeton.

In addition, Inspira has decided to apply for an expansion of its current residency program to include psychiatry as a specialty. Inspira's Vineland-based residency and fellowship training program which began in 2009 has become the second fastest growing residency program in the nation.