Integration of Primary Care Services Into a Nurse Practitioner Telemental Health Practice: Review of Literature to Guide Best Practices

Abstract

Individuals with mental illness have a shorter life expectancy, worse health outcomes, and receive fewer primary care services. This report reviews models of integrated care in the telehealth setting to determine best practices for the development of a telehealth integrated care clinic run by nurse practitioners. Five themes arose: population, models of care, benefits, barriers, policy, and management recommendations. Findings indicate that integrated models of care can be adapted to telehealth. Additional exploration is needed to determine application outside of the Veterans Affairs populations. Policy and management articles revealed similarities between recommendations.