ABSTRACT
There is increased recognition that more mental health concerns are seen in primary care than any other healthcare setting.
The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is a significant redesign of primary care, and many of the principles of the PCMH
appeal to the usage of a whole person mind-and-body treatment approach that is responsive to all the patient’s needs. This
study examined the level of collaboration between National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)-recognized PCMH primary
care practices and outpatient specialty behavioral health services (when compared to other medically oriented specialties).
In 2010, a 20-item survey was sent to 238 NCQA PCMHs to learn what they were doing to address behavioral health needs in primary
care. A sub-dataset from the survey was analyzed in order to look specifically at referrals, communication, and scheduling-support
processes. These data were compared with how the practice responded to similar questions about endocrinology and cardiology.
Results from the participating 123 practices revealed that very few practices address behavioral health conditions as they
would other medical conditions. This is evidenced by the lack of routinized processes to assist with referrals, communication,
and scheduling to outpatient behavioral health services. There appears to be significant opportunity to improve how behavioral
health is addressed in the patient-centered medical home.
The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is a significant redesign of primary care, and many of the principles of the PCMH
appeal to the usage of a whole person mind-and-body treatment approach that is responsive to all the patient’s needs. This
study examined the level of collaboration between National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)-recognized PCMH primary
care practices and outpatient specialty behavioral health services (when compared to other medically oriented specialties).
In 2010, a 20-item survey was sent to 238 NCQA PCMHs to learn what they were doing to address behavioral health needs in primary
care. A sub-dataset from the survey was analyzed in order to look specifically at referrals, communication, and scheduling-support
processes. These data were compared with how the practice responded to similar questions about endocrinology and cardiology.
Results from the participating 123 practices revealed that very few practices address behavioral health conditions as they
would other medical conditions. This is evidenced by the lack of routinized processes to assist with referrals, communication,
and scheduling to outpatient behavioral health services. There appears to be significant opportunity to improve how behavioral
health is addressed in the patient-centered medical home.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Research
- Pages 1-5
- DOI 10.1007/s13142-012-0153-4
- Authors
- Idalia Massa, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Benjamin F Miller, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Rodger Kessler, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA
- Journal Translational Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1613-9860
- Print ISSN 1869-6716