Integrating Behavioral Health and Ambulatory Care Self-Assessment Checklist

The Self-Assessment Checklist for Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care (referred to as Integration Self-Assessment Checklist) is based on AHRQ's Lexicon for Behavioral Health and Primary Care Integration, a consensus-based set of concepts and definitions that provides a shared language for understanding and implementing integrated behavioral health in primary care settings. The Integration Self-Assessment Checklist is designed to complement this Playbook so practices can customize their implementation approach for their setting based on their responses. The self-assessment checklist can be used before, during, or after implementation of the integrated program. The checklist includes 37 questions. It will take about 10 minutes to complete in one sitting.

The Integration Self-Assessment Checklist helps you understand where your organization stands with respect to all aspects of integrated behavioral health.

• Consider having all members of your Planning and Implementation Team complete the checklist and discuss the responses. Are there certain aspects of integration that are farther along (with more "yes" responses) than others? Are there certain areas within the Checklist that lack consensus, and if so, why?
• As you plan for integrating behavioral health in your setting, use the checklist responses and discussion with the Planning and Implementation Team to identify areas of focus and priority.
• As you continue implementing integration into your setting, use the Integration Self-Assessment Checklist to assess your progress and identify areas for improvement.

A downloadable version of the self-assessment checklist is available. You may wish to print several copies of the checklist for providers and staff to answer individually before coming to collective agreement on responses to each question.