Raising a child with developmental or behavioral support needs often means juggling multiple appointments, providers, and care plans, all while trying to meet the unique needs of your child and family. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
For many families in Utah and beyond, the idea of “integrated healthcare” has become more than a buzzword; it’s a lifeline. But what does it actually mean? How is it different from traditional care? And why does it matter for children needing support such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), mental health therapy, primary care, or educational intervention?
At Bridgeway Integrated Healthcare Services, we’ve spent over a decade building an integrated model to answer those exact questions. With nine locations across Utah from Taylorsville to St. George, our mission is simple: make high-quality, multidisciplinary support easier to access, easier to manage, and more tailored to your child’s individual path.
What Is Integrated Healthcare?
Integrated healthcare is an approach that brings together different areas of care, such as behavioral therapy, mental health counseling, primary care, and education, into a single, coordinated system.
Instead of bouncing between separate offices with little communication between providers, families receive care that is:
Collaborative
Teams work together across specialties
Coordinated
Providers share goals, insights, and progress notes
Convenient
Services are offered in one location or tightly linked nearby
Customized
Support plans are shaped by the whole picture, not just one diagnosis
For children with autism or related developmental needs, this model often means that services like ABA, speech therapy, pediatric care, and IEP support are connected, not isolated.
Why Traditional Systems Fall Short for Families Navigating Autism
Let’s be real: even with a great provider, traditional systems are rarely set up for seamless care. A child may receive ABA therapy in one clinic, mental health support in another, and attend school with its own individualized education program (IEP) team, none of whom communicate with each other.
Parents often become the bridge between these systems:
- Repeating medical history over and over
- Coordinating appointment times
- Following up to ensure therapists and teachers are on the same page
- Managing insurance paperwork across providers
That’s not just overwhelming; it can slow progress, cause miscommunication, and leave families feeling burned out.
An integrated system removes that burden and places the coordination where it belongs: within the care team.
What Integrated Care Looks Like at Bridgeway
At Bridgeway, integrated care isn’t a label; it’s how we’re structured. Our multidisciplinary teams include:
- Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) for ABA support
- Licensed therapists for mental health counseling and family guidance
- Medical professionals for pediatric check-ups, prescriptions, and physical health
- Educational staff in our Academy program support learning and academic progress
We serve children and families across nine Utah cities:
- Taylorsville, UT (Headquarters)
- St. George, UT
- Cedar City, UT
- Lehi, UT
- Roy, UT
- Brigham City, UT
- Richfield, UT
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Riverdale, UT
We offer services under one roof, reducing travel, coordination stress, and time away from school or work.
How Integration Helps Children With Developmental Support Needs
Every child’s strengths and challenges are unique, but here’s how integration commonly benefits families navigating autism:
1. Better Communication Between Providers
Your child’s BCBA, therapist, and pediatrician meet regularly. If your child is experiencing more meltdowns, the whole team discusses it, adjusts ABA strategies, checks for physical causes, or supports you with new techniques.
2. One Care Plan, Multiple Perspectives
Rather than siloed goals, your child has a unified support plan. The mental health team might recommend coping strategies that the ABA team helps teach and reinforce. Medical staff can check whether physical health or sleep concerns are affecting behavior or learning.
3. Smoother Transitions
As your child moves from early childhood to school age, or from middle to high school, we support transitions through coordinated education and therapy planning.
4. Easier Access to Services
From Medicaid paperwork to scheduling, our team helps families get what they need without jumping through hoops.
5. Whole-Family Support
When siblings, parents, or guardians need help managing stress or navigating a diagnosis, our integrated model can include counseling and guidance for the whole family.
A Day in the Life: Integrated Support in Action
Let’s say your child is 5 years old and attends ABA sessions in our Lehi, UT clinic. Their BCBA notices that they’ve been more withdrawn during sessions. In an integrated system, here’s what might happen:
- The BCBA communicates with your child’s mental health therapist onsite.
- The therapist checks in with your child and family and learns they’re struggling with sleep and appetite.
- Our medical provider will conduct a physical exam for your child and address any underlying health issues.
- The team adjusts goals to ease the demand during sessions while supporting progress.
No delays. No lost information. No finger-pointing. Just coordinated care.
Does It Replace Your Pediatrician or School?
Not necessarily. Many families still work with external pediatricians, schools, or specialists. But having an integrated hub like Bridgeway means your child’s in-house team can collaborate, share information, and support advocacy:
- Helping with IEP meetings
- Communicating with outside doctors (with consent)
- Coordinating care when your child transitions to new providers
You stay in control. We simply make it easier to manage everything.
Integrated Care and Insurance: What to Know
Families often ask: Will insurance cover all of this?
At Bridgeway, we work with most major insurance plans in Utah, including:
- Medicaid (We assist with eligibility and paperwork)
- Commercial plans
- Flexible payment options if needed
We’ll help verify what’s covered and what’s not. Because services are integrated, some therapies may be covered under different parts of your plan (e.g., behavioral health, pediatric care).
Need help navigating coverage? Contact our insurance support team.
Who Benefits Most From Integrated Healthcare?
While every family can benefit, integrated care is especially helpful for:
- Families new to an autism or developmental diagnosis
- Families juggling multiple therapies or clinics
- Families navigating IEPs, medication, and emotional support at once
- Rural families who want to reduce travel
- Parents looking for a simpler, less overwhelming way to support their child
How to Access Integrated Services in Utah
Getting started is simple:
Schedule a Consultation
Meet with a care coordinator to review your child’s needs.
Complete an Assessment
Our team will evaluate your child’s strengths and areas for support.
Build a Care Plan
We’ll recommend a personalized, multidisciplinary plan and check your insurance coverage.
Start Services at Your Local Clinic
Whether you’re in Roy, Riverdale, or Richfield, your journey starts close to home.
Integrated Means Supported
If you’ve felt overwhelmed managing ABA, therapy, school meetings, and medical visits, integrated care may be what your family needs.
At Bridgeway, we see every child as more than a diagnosis and every parent as part of the team. We’re here to simplify, support, and serve your family in ways that feel human, compassionate, and effective.
Ready to explore what integrated care can look like for your family?
Visit https://www.bridgewayintegratedhealthcareservices.com or find support near you in Taylorsville, Lehi, St. George, Cedar City, Brigham City, Richfield, Riverdale, Salt Lake City, and Roy