TY - JOUR
AU - D. M. Scharf
AU - N. K. Eberhart
AU - N. Schmidt
AU - C. A. Vaughan
AU - T. Dutta
AU - H. A. Pincus
AU - M. A. Burnam
A1 - 
AB - OBJECTIVE This article describes the characteristics and early implementation experiences of community behavioral health agencies that received Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration (PBHCI) grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to integrate primary care into programs for adults with serious mental illness. METHODS Data were collected from 56 programs, across 26 states, that received PBHCI grants in 2009 (N=13) or 2010 (N=43). The authors systematically extracted quantitative and qualitative information about program characteristics from grantee proposals and semistructured telephone interviews with core program staff. Quarterly reports submitted by grantees were coded to identify barriers to implementing integrated care. RESULTS Grantees shared core features required by the grant but varied widely in terms of characteristics of the organization, such as size and location, and in the way services were integrated, such as through partnerships with a primary care agency. Barriers to program implementation at start-up included difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified staff and issues related to data collection and use of electronic health records, licensing and approvals, and physical space. By the end of the first year, some problems, such as space issues, were largely resolved, but other issues, including problems with staffing and data collection, remained. New challenges, such as patient recruitment, had emerged. CONCLUSIONS Early implementation experiences of PBHCI grantees may inform other programs that seek to integrate primary care into behavioral health settings as part of new, large-scale government initiatives, such as specialty mental health homes.
BT - Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)
C5 - Education & Workforce; HIT & Telehealth
DO - 10.1176/appi.ps.201200269
JF - Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)
N2 - OBJECTIVE This article describes the characteristics and early implementation experiences of community behavioral health agencies that received Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration (PBHCI) grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to integrate primary care into programs for adults with serious mental illness. METHODS Data were collected from 56 programs, across 26 states, that received PBHCI grants in 2009 (N=13) or 2010 (N=43). The authors systematically extracted quantitative and qualitative information about program characteristics from grantee proposals and semistructured telephone interviews with core program staff. Quarterly reports submitted by grantees were coded to identify barriers to implementing integrated care. RESULTS Grantees shared core features required by the grant but varied widely in terms of characteristics of the organization, such as size and location, and in the way services were integrated, such as through partnerships with a primary care agency. Barriers to program implementation at start-up included difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified staff and issues related to data collection and use of electronic health records, licensing and approvals, and physical space. By the end of the first year, some problems, such as space issues, were largely resolved, but other issues, including problems with staffing and data collection, remained. New challenges, such as patient recruitment, had emerged. CONCLUSIONS Early implementation experiences of PBHCI grantees may inform other programs that seek to integrate primary care into behavioral health settings as part of new, large-scale government initiatives, such as specialty mental health homes.
PY - 2013
SN - 1557-9700; 1075-2730
T1 - Integrating Primary Care Into Community Behavioral Health Settings: Programs and Early Implementation Experiences
T2 - Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)
TI - Integrating Primary Care Into Community Behavioral Health Settings: Programs and Early Implementation Experiences
U1 - Education & Workforce; HIT & Telehealth
U2 - 23584674
U3 - 10.1176/appi.ps.201200269
VO - 1557-9700; 1075-2730
Y1 - 2013
ER -