Report from the field: A model of behavioral health integration with pediatric providers

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Integrated Behavioral Health
• Primary Care Pediatrics

Background:

• Significant gaps exist in accessing mental health resources for children.
• Childhood psychiatric disorders require specialized management often unavailable in primary care settings.
• A shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists limits timely and adequate care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation of an integrated behavioral health model in Texas.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN) in supporting primary care providers (PCPs).
• To assess PCP confidence in managing childhood psychiatric disorders post-consultation.

Main Methods:

• The Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN) model was implemented in Texas.
• Primary care providers (PCPs) consulted with the CPAN team for pediatric mental health cases.
• Data collected from November 2021, covering 17 months of PCP consultations.

Main Results:

• Over 90% of PCPs reported increased comfort in managing pediatric mental health conditions after CPAN consultations.
• The CPAN model facilitated direct delivery of recommended mental health care by PCPs.
• Consultation data from 17 months demonstrated feasibility and provider acceptance.

Conclusions:

• The Child Psychiatry Access Network (CPAN) is a feasible integrated behavioral health approach.
• CPAN effectively supports primary care providers in addressing childhood psychiatric disorders.
• This model shows promise in mitigating the shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists.