ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe the work and experiences of psychiatrists practicing integrated care in the community. METHODS: Consulting psychiatrists working in integrated care participated in an online survey about their experiences, opinions, and advice. Results were analyzed with quantitative and qualitative methods. RESULTS: A convenience sample of 52 psychiatrists from around the country who were working in integrated care responded. Respondents reported that they address a wide variety of clinical problems with a range of treatment strategies. Most reported positive experiences, which were summarized in four themes: working in a patient-centered care model, working with a team, the psychiatrist's role as educator, and opportunities for growth and innovation. CONCLUSIONS: The survey documented the experiences of psychiatrists working in integrated care. Findings suggest that integrated care teams allow consulting psychiatrists to leverage their expertise to reach a large number of patients in a variety of practice settings.
Subject(s)
Delivery of Health Care, Integrated/standards , Patient-Centered Care/organization & administration , Psychiatry , Evidence-Based Medicine , Female , Humans , Internet , Male , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , WashingtonABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: With the increased implementation of models that integrate behavioral health with other medical care, there is a need for a workforce of integrated care providers, including psychiatrists, who are trained to deliver mental health care in new ways and meet the needs of a primary care population. However, little is known about the educational needs of psychiatrists in practice delivering integrated care to inform the development of integrated care training experiences. METHOD: The educational needs of the integrated care team were assessed by surveying psychiatric consultants who work in integrated care. RESULTS: A convenience sample of 52 psychiatrists working in integrated care responded to the survey. The majority of the topics included in the survey were considered educational priorities (>50% of the psychiatrists rated them as essential) for the psychiatric consultant role. Psychiatrists' perspectives on educational priorities for behavioral health providers (BHPs) and primary care providers (PCPs) were also identified. Almost all psychiatrists reported that they provide educational support for PCPs and BHPs (for PCP 92%; for BHP 96%). CONCLUSIONS: The information provided in this report suggests likely educational needs of the integrated care psychiatric consultant and provides insight into the learning needs of other integrated care team members. Defining clear priorities related to the three roles of the integrated care psychiatric consultant (clinical consultant, clinical educator, and clinical team leader) will be helpful to inform residency training programs to prepare psychiatrists for work in this emerging field of psychiatry.
