Collaboration in Primary Care Through the Integration of Behavioral Health Professionals

Rising costs, poorer outcomes, and dissatisfied patients have challenged medical systems to rethink their approach to health care delivery. Although up to 70 percent of primary care visits stem from psychosocial issues, behavioral health services have traditionally occurred in separate buildings and systems. In order to decrease barriers and meet patients' and providers' needs, primary care practices have begun integrating behavioral health professionals into their clinics. Various levels of integration exist, but the best models fully integrate behavioral health clinicians into primary care teams, allowing for seamless collaboration. Behavioral health professionals are able to support the treatment of a number of mental and physical health conditions, and can provide such services as part of regular primary care visits. Although a number of obstacles exist to developing and optimizing integrated behavioral health services, efforts are underway nationally to decrease barriers and support further training and implementation.