1. Integrating Behavioral Health into Primary Medical Care
Meg Taylor, Physician Health Partners
Mari Wolfe, Peak Pediatrics

2. PCP, Meet Therapist

3. What Was the Need? Patient Need Access issues Whole person care
It’s the right thing to do
More compliant
Comfortability of the patient
Limited community resources
Gaps in communication with external providers
Able to recognize and treat symptoms early

4. Details! Details! Details!
Timeframe
Hiring
Credentialing
Reimbursement

5. Challenges Challenges Overcoming Barriers BHP credentialing
Correct billing/coding
Patient need greater than BHP availability
Limited time for non-therapy services
Collaboration with health plans
Scheduling changes

6. Successes! Ability to meet the needs of children and their families
Developed a sustainable model
Overwhelmingly positive feedback from the patients and parents/guardians
Ability to provide early intervention to prevent potential development of more serious conditions

7. - Barb Hosick, Office Manager, Peak Pediatric
“When Dr. Barb (Gablehouse from Peak Pediatrics) was approached by PHP/CCHA about a co-location pilot project with JCMH, it couldn’t happen fast enough. It was an opportunity for Peak to test the waters. Find out how the families responded to having a LCSW in the office to help deal with children in need. The response was so overwhelming that Peak went from having a LCSW from JCMH ½ a day/week to 2-3 days per week.
It was when the LCSW from JCMH decided to move on that the administration at Peak decided to fully integrate. In just over a year this aspect of the practice has come a long way. Branching from patients coming for appointments with the therapist on a weekly basis, to meeting with families shortly after the arrival of a newborn.
Meeting the needs of a few is better than none at all. Keeping children out of mental health centers and trouble in life is worth every challenge or hurdle that we meet. It is rewarding to think that having this integrated in the practice helps families deal with the issues in their lives without the struggles of finding somewhere to go. “
- Barb Hosick, Office Manager, Peak Pediatric

8. You can do it too!