TY - JOUR
AU - N. Gouge
AU - J. Polaha
AU - R. Rogers
AU - A. Harden
A1 - 
AB - OBJECTIVES: Integrating a behavioral health consultant (BHC) into primary care is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer medical visits, and increased provider satisfaction; however, few studies have evaluated the feasibility of this model from an operations perspective. Specifically, time and cost have been identified as barriers to implementation. Our study aimed to examine time spent, patient volume, and revenue generated during days when the on-site BHC was available compared with days when the consultant was not. METHODS: Data were collected across a 10-day period when a BHC provided services and 10 days when she was not available. Data included time stamps of patient direct care; providers' direct reports of problems raised; and a review of medical and administrative records, including billing codes and reimbursement. This study took place in a rural, stand-alone private pediatric primary care practice. The participants were five pediatric primary care providers (PCPs; two doctors of medicine, 1 doctor of osteopathy, 2 nurse practitioners) and two supervised doctoral students in psychology (BHCs). Pediatric patients (N = 668) and their parents also participated. RESULTS: On days when a BHC was present, medical providers spent 2 fewer minutes on average for every patient seen, saw 42% more patients, and collected $1142 more revenue than on days when no consultant was present. CONCLUSIONS: The time savings demonstrated on days when the consultant was available point to the efficiency and potential financial viability of this model. These results have important implications for the feasibility of hiring behavioral health professionals in a fee-for-service system. They have equally useful implications for the utility of moving to a bundled system of care in which collaborative practice is valued.
BT - Southern medical journal
C5 - Education & Workforce; Financing & Sustainability; Healthcare Disparities
CP - 12
CY - United States
DO - 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000000564
IS - 12
JF - Southern medical journal
N2 - OBJECTIVES: Integrating a behavioral health consultant (BHC) into primary care is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer medical visits, and increased provider satisfaction; however, few studies have evaluated the feasibility of this model from an operations perspective. Specifically, time and cost have been identified as barriers to implementation. Our study aimed to examine time spent, patient volume, and revenue generated during days when the on-site BHC was available compared with days when the consultant was not. METHODS: Data were collected across a 10-day period when a BHC provided services and 10 days when she was not available. Data included time stamps of patient direct care; providers' direct reports of problems raised; and a review of medical and administrative records, including billing codes and reimbursement. This study took place in a rural, stand-alone private pediatric primary care practice. The participants were five pediatric primary care providers (PCPs; two doctors of medicine, 1 doctor of osteopathy, 2 nurse practitioners) and two supervised doctoral students in psychology (BHCs). Pediatric patients (N = 668) and their parents also participated. RESULTS: On days when a BHC was present, medical providers spent 2 fewer minutes on average for every patient seen, saw 42% more patients, and collected $1142 more revenue than on days when no consultant was present. CONCLUSIONS: The time savings demonstrated on days when the consultant was available point to the efficiency and potential financial viability of this model. These results have important implications for the feasibility of hiring behavioral health professionals in a fee-for-service system. They have equally useful implications for the utility of moving to a bundled system of care in which collaborative practice is valued.
PP - United States
PY - 2016
SN - 1541-8243; 0038-4348
SP - 774
EP - 778
EP - 
T1 - Integrating Behavioral Health into Pediatric Primary Care: Implications for Provider Time and Cost
T2 - Southern medical journal
TI - Integrating Behavioral Health into Pediatric Primary Care: Implications for Provider Time and Cost
U1 - Education & Workforce; Financing & Sustainability; Healthcare Disparities
U2 - 27911972
U3 - 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000000564
VL - 109
VO - 1541-8243; 0038-4348
Y1 - 2016
ER -