Phone Consultation for Behavioral Health–Related Referrals in Integrated Primary Care. (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Valleley, Rachel J.; Hine, Jeffrey F.; Clare, Ann; Evans, Joseph H.
• Is Part Of: Journal of primary care & community health. Volume 6:Number 4(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 260
• Page End: 263
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: access to care -- children -- efficiency -- health promotion -- pediatrics -- primary care; Primary health care -- Periodicals; Primary health care -- United States -- Periodicals; Community health services -- Periodicals; Community health services -- United States -- Periodicals; 362.12
• DOI: 10.1177/2150131915598129
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2150-1319

Abstract

Behavioral health (BH) providers add value to primary care teams. This descriptive study illustrates one such role that the BH provider can serve. The on-site BH provider responded to patient phone inquiries regarding BH topics for pediatricians over the course of 15 months. The majority of these calls were for children 10 years and younger and related to externalizing problems. Phone calls were relatively brief (ie, 11-15 minutes). More than half of these phone calls resulted in families scheduling an appointment with nearly 75% showing up for the initial session. Providing this type of adjunctive service may result in earlier access to care and efficiently assigning responsibilities to the appropriate team member.