Exploring North Carolina's Transition to Whole-Person, Integrated Care From the Provider Perspective: Results From an Exploratory Survey.

Abstract

BACKGROUND For quite some time, many North Carolina practitioners and health care leaders have advocated for whole-person care. There has been significant movement toward a whole-person approach to health in the state; however, challenges remain despite continuous momentum building over the years. This article reports an exploratory survey with North Carolina primary care and behavioral health providers.METHODS Providers were recruited statewide through professional associations and networks to participate in a survey regarding their experience delivering whole-person care. The survey included demographic, provider, and clinic type information; professional experience; and 46 questions focused on whole-person care practice.RESULTS The results of the survey demonstrated that providers report more acknowledgment and attempted practice of whole-person care, but there are still barriers to overcome, such as relieving the administrative burden of changing or expanding services, understanding reimbursement for integrated services, and difficulty recruiting and retaining providers.LIMITATIONS The sample included more nurse practitioners than other primary care and behavioral health disciplines. Thus, the information gathered in this survey may be more representative of the training and experience of nurse practitioners than of a paradigm shift in North Carolina in the delivery of care. Additionally, while researchers made every attempt to distribute the survey statewide, some areas of the state were more represented than others.CONCLUSION Obstacles to seamlessly providing whole person care remain. State health leaders, providers, and North Carolina communities will need to work together to reduce or eliminate these obstacles and ensure the delivery of integrated behavioral health and whole-person care.