Essential integrated behavioral health care skills for primary care providers: A Delphi study.

INTRODUCTION: Workforce development is a vital process for advancing the field of integrated behavioral health in primary care (IBHPC) and depends on the development of job-specific skills that meet the needs of patients and other team members. Job-specific skills guide both university- and worksite-based training programs in preparing future cohorts of health care professionals in IBHPC; however, there are no extant training criteria for nontrainee primary care providers. METHOD: A multiround survey using a modified Delphi technique was conducted. Participants were recruited from a large national research network, university alumni and community health center partners. Participants included allopathic and osteopathic physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners serving as primary care providers in a variety of IBHPC settings. In the survey, participants were instructed to categorize 22 skills as "Essential," "Compatible," or "Irrelevant" for IBHPC practice. Categorized responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and comments were analyzed using a modified thematic analysis method. RESULTS: Fifty-four participants were recruited for the study, with 43 participating in round 1, 38 participating in round 2, and 36 participating in round 3. After 3 rounds, 19 skills received at least 80% consensus as "Essential" and 22 received at least 50% consensus as "Essential." Comment themes revealed participants were overall agreeable with skills, but had concerns about role, training, and time constraints. DISCUSSION: Primary care providers can prepare for and enhance IBHPC practice by developing skills identified as essential. Employers can adapt this skill list for efforts related to recruiting, hiring, and onboarding. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Review of Data Pulse: A Brief Tour of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care.

Reviews the book, Data Pulse: A Brief Tour of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care by Matthew M. Marcetich (2020). This book remains true to its name as a brief review, providing a snap shot of how artificial intelligence (AI) is transform ing the application of informatics in health care. While reading the 12 chapters, the reviewer felt as if she were exploring new worlds of how health care is and should be-relying on AI system-wide. This is a necessary introductory guide for seasoned health care profes sionals seeking to answer the question of how their current and future career will involve AI practice implementation and/or research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Workflow Improvement and the Use of PDSA Cycles: An Exploration Using Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Integration.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to use a best practice quality improvement process to identify and eliminate barriers to Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) integration in a Federally Qualified Health Center. SBIRT provides an initial method for addressing mental health and substance abuse concerns of patients. The method is very useful in integration of behavioral health screening in primary care. METHODS: A Process Improvement Team used 4 Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles during a 10-week time frame to (1) reduce the reported frequency of barriers to the SBIRT process, (2) reduce non-value-added activities in the SBIRT workflow, (3) reduce bottlenecks, and (4) increase patient receipt of SBIRT. A modified Referral Barriers Questionnaire, a swim lane diagram, non-value-added versus value-added analysis, and a Shewhart control chart (P-chart) were used to evaluate process and outcome measures. RESULTS: Nurses reported a 23.82% reduction in referral barrier frequency and a 21.12% increase in the helpfulness of SBIRT. Providers reported a 7.60% reduction in referral barrier frequency and a decrease in the helpfulness of SBIRT. The P-chart indicated that the process changes resulted in a positive shift in behaviors and an increase in patient receipt of SBIRT. CONCLUSION: The use of a best practice quality improvement process resulted in improvements in workflow related to SBIRT, greater communication about SBIRT, and identification of barriers that blocked successful receipt of SBIRT.

Financing the Primary Care Behavioral Health Model.

The PCBH model of integrated care blends behavioral health professionals into the primary care team, thereby enhancing the scope of primary care and expanding the range of services provided to the patient. Despite promising evidence in support of the model and a growing number of advocates and practitioners of PCBH integration, current reimbursement policies are not always favorable. As the nation's healthcare system transitions to value-based payment models, new financing strategies are emerging which will further support the viability of PCBH integration. This article provides an overview of the infrastructure necessary to support PCBH practice; reviews the current PCBH funding landscape; discusses how emerging trends in healthcare financing are impacting the model; and provides a vision for the viability of the PCBH model within the value-based financing of our healthcare system in the future.

Enhancing the value of integrated primary care: The role of occupational therapy.

Primary care practice transformation is a priority in our rapidly evolving and complex health care system. Medical practices must maximize the use of staff to develop effective and efficient interprofessional care teams to optimize patient care delivery and improve outcomes and access with less cost. Occupational therapists have training and expertise that can provide valuable contributions to integrated primary care teams. In this article, we review the educational background and core competencies of this group of professionals and compare them to the core competencies of integrated behavioral health in primary care. Additionally, we explore the potential financial benefits of including occupational therapists as a member of the interprofessional team. With a comprehensive background addressing physical health, behavioral health, rehabilitation, and habilitation, occupational therapists complement the interprofessional team by dealing with the issues that affect function and quality of life. We recommend that primary care practices include occupational therapists as an essential member of the integrated primary care team. (PsycINFO Database Record