Primary Care Supervision: A Community of Practice

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Behavioral Health Workforce Development
• Clinical Supervision Training

Background:

• The need for effective professional development models for behavioral health (BH) clinical supervisors is critical.
• The Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model requires specialized supervisory skills.
• Existing training may not adequately prepare supervisors for evolving healthcare demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and impact of a Community of Practice (CoP) model on BH clinical supervisor professional development.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of CoP workshops in enhancing PCBH supervision skills.
• To determine supervisor satisfaction and perceived competence gains.

Main Methods:

• A 4-year longitudinal study involving 14 supervisors participating in 13 CoP-focused workshops.
• Workshops delivered bi-semesterly, combining in-person and virtual formats.
• Utilized post-workshop surveys to measure satisfaction and skill development in PCBH supervision.

Main Results:

• Supervisors reported high satisfaction with the CoP workshop content.
• Significant improvements in supervisor confidence and competence were observed.
• Key areas of enhanced skills included integrated care settings, primary care topics, and telehealth supervision.

Conclusions:

• The CoP model is a feasible and promising approach for enhancing BH clinical supervisor development.
• Institutions can adopt CoP workshops to improve clinical teaching and supervision in primary care.
• This model effectively supports supervisors working with pre-licensure trainees in PCBH settings.