Improving Interprofessional Collaboration Between Behavioral Mental Health and Pediatric Primary Care Providers Through Standardized Communication

Abstract

Pediatric mental health crisis increases demand for integrated behavioral health and pediatric primary care providers (PPCP). Communication is key to successful integrated pediatric behavioral-mental health, but studies demonstrate gaps between existing and desired communication practices. Project aims to improve PPCP factors and patient outcomes by implementing standardized communication tool in the Electronic Health Record (EHR). Pre-post 20-week intervention. Pediatric primary care and affiliated pediatric behavioral-mental health clinic of academic health system. PBMH patients and referring PPCPs. PPCP satisfaction with communication, comfort and confidence continuing mental health care pre-post PBMH consult, and patient appointment attendance. PPCP confidence and comfort treatingmental health in primary careincreased. No significant change in PPCP satisfaction after implementing standardized communication. Identified factors associated with patient appointment continuity. Standardized EHR communication tools and enhancing PPCP confidence in managing common pediatric mental health conditions are effective collaboration strategies.