Virtual Collaborative Behavioral Health Model in a Community Pediatric Network: Two-Year Outcomes

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Primary Care
• Behavioral Health Integration
• Healthcare Delivery Models

Background:

• Shortage of behavioral health (BH) specialists limits access to care.
• Pediatric primary care practitioners (PPCPs) are well-positioned to deliver BH services.
• Need for accessible, scalable, and affordable collaborative care models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel, primarily virtual collaborative care model.
• To assess the impact of this model on PPCPs' confidence and BH service provision.
• To determine the model's affordability and scalability.

Main Methods:

• Pilot program implemented in 18 pediatric practices across two cohorts.
• 48 PPCPs serving approximately 150,000 patients participated.
• Pre- and post-program surveys assessed outcomes.

Main Results:

• Significant increase in PPCPs' confidence in BH knowledge and skills.
• Significant increase in the provision of targeted BH services by PPCPs.
• Barriers related to resources, time, and staff remained unchanged.

Conclusions:

• A compact, mostly virtual BH collaboration model is beneficial for PPCPs.
• The model offers convenience for patients and scalability for practices.
• This approach enhances BH service delivery within primary care settings.