Latest pub from van Eegrhn and Clifton on integrated behavioral health in primary care

Congratulations to Connie van Eeghen, Assistant Professor of Medicine, and Jessica Clifton, Faculty Scientist, who were on the team that just published this work:

Defining and measuring core processes and structures in integrated behavioral health in primary care: a cross-model framework

Kari A Stephens, Constance van Eeghen, Brenda Mollis, Margaret Au, Stephanie A Brennhofer, Matthew Martin, Jessica Clifton, Elizabeth Witwer, Audrey Hansen, Jeyn Monkman, Gretchen Buchanan, Rodger Kessler

Translational Behavioral Medicine, Volume 10, Issue 3, June 2020, Pages 527–538

https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibz163

Published: 07 August 2020

Abstract

A movement towards integrated behavioral health (IBH) in primary care continues to grow, among an accumulating evidence base for its effectiveness for improving care. However, healthcare organizations struggle to navigate where to target their limited resources for improving integration. We evaluated a cross-model framework of IBH core processes and structures. We used a mixed-methods approach for evaluation of the framework, which included (a) an evaluation survey of national experts and stakeholders, (b) crosswalks with common IBH measures, and (c) a real-world usability test. Five core IBH principles, mapping to 25 processes, and nine clinic structures were defined. Survey responses from 29 IBH domain and policy experts and stakeholders resulted in uniformly high ratings of importance and variable levels of feasibility for measurement, particularly with respect to electronic health record (EHR) systems. A real-world usability test resulted in good uptake and use of the framework across a state-wide effort. An IBH Cross-Model Framework of core principles, processes, and structures generated good acceptability and showed good real-world utility in a state-wide effort to improve IBH across disparate levels of integration in diverse primary care settings. Findings identify feasible areas of measurement, particularly with EHR systems. Next steps include testing the relationship between the individual framework components and patient outcomes to help guide clinics towards prioritizing efforts focused on improving integration.