Integrated behavioral health care

Abstract

Integrating behavioral health and primary care represents a significant transformation in the way that health care is conceptualized and delivered and is often an essential part of care for patients with chronic disease. This movement has grown over the past two decades due to recognition that a fragmented system of care, where the care of the body and the mind are artificially separated, was not meeting the needs of patients. There are a multitude of ways that practices have integrated behavioral health care including co-located care, consultation models involving telepsychiatry or web-based services, and team-based collaborative care. In developing an integrated behavioral health service, practices need to consider their mission and vision, staffing and training, workflow and care pathways, workspace design, billing issues, and the use of data to drive practice and improvement. Integrating behavioral health has been shown to improve mental health and physical health outcomes, improve patient and provider experience, reduce health-care disparities, and reduce health-care costs. The current evidence base has demonstrated substantial promise that integrated care will play a critical role in achieving the quadruple aim of better health, better patient experience, lower costs, and improved physician experience.