Collaborative Care: Integrating Behavioral Health Into the Primary Care Setting

Area of Science:

• Healthcare delivery models
• Primary care innovation
• Behavioral health integration

Background:

• Integrated behavioral health addresses complex patient needs in primary care.
• Collaborative Care (CC) is an evidence-based model using interdisciplinary teams for behavioral health disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate the Collaborative Care (CC) model in a nurse-managed health center.
• To assess the impact of CC on patient outcomes and provider experience in a medically underserved community.

Main Methods:

• Implemented CC with family nurse practitioners, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, and social workers.
• Restructured patient visits, care teams, and financial operations.
• Utilized weekly case consultations and provider training; tracked depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7) scores.

Main Results:

• 166 patients received care in the first year; 64 actively treated.
• 22% of patients achieved suggested depression outcome goals.
• 47% of patients achieved suggested anxiety outcome goals.

Conclusions:

• CC offers holistic patient treatment, integrating mental and physical health.
• The model enhances collaboration with behavioral health specialists.
• CC improves family nurse practitioners' competence and confidence.