PS1-32: Psychology in Primary Care: An Evaluation of Best Practices

Abstract

Background/Aims Integrating psychology and mental health professionals into primary care settings has emerged as a means to improve the access to and utilization of mental health services. Three main delivery models of psychology in primary care settings have emerged: referring a patient to a psychologist/mental health professional located in a facility outside of the primary care physician’s (PCP) office; referring a patient to a co-located psychologist/mental health professional who does not directly interface with PCP; integrated and co-located model where the PCP and the psychologist/ mental health professional discuss the patient’s health. The overall purpose of this project was to compare patient utilization of psychology/mental health services across the Scott & White Health care system.