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Symposia
Dissemination & Implementation Science
Keke Schuler, Ph.D.
Qualitative Researcher
Reliant Medical Group
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Keke Schuler, Ph.D.
Qualitative Researcher
Reliant Medical Group
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Heather O’Dea, BA
Practice Manager
Reliant Medical Group
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Pratha Sah, PhD
Data Scientist
Reliant Medical Group
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Brittany Jaso, PhD
Research Manager
Reliant Medical Group
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Mariesa Pennine, BA
Research Assistant
Reliant Medical Group
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Laura Orth, LICSW
Behavioral Health Director of Clinical Innovation
Reliant Medical Group
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Lily Murillo, BA
Clinical Care Transformation Program Manager
Reliant Medical Group
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Georgia Hoyler, BS
Senior Director, Office of Strategy & Innovation
United Health Group
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
J. Ben Barnes, PhD
Medical Director
Reliant Medical Group
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Mara Eyllon, PhD (she/her/hers)
Assistant director of pRN
Reliant Medical Group
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Kankana Sengupta, PhD
Data Scientist
Reliant Medical Group
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Samuel Nordberg, PhD (she/her/hers)
Chief of Behavioral Health
Reliant Medical Group
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Soo Jeong Youn, PhD
Senior Implementation Scientist
Reliant Medical Group
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
With increasing behavioral health demands, the number of behavioral health service providers are limited. A possible solution is to have primary care providers (PCPs) address patient needs. The present study evaluates the process of scaling Precision Behavioral Health (PBH), a care model that matches patients to an evidence-based ecosystem of digital interventions, in primary care. We used a phenomenological qualitative research design to gain an in-depth understanding of PCPs’ experiences of PBH. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 PCPs (4 MDs, 3 physician assistants, and 7 nurse practitioners; all female). The interviews focused on four key aspects: overall experiences as a referring provider, the clinical referral workflow, the impact on providers’ self-confidence, and suggested adaptations. Interviews were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results showed that most PCPs had a positive experience. Some PCPs mentioned experiencing a transition period after the training, but that their self-confidence and comfort increased after referring a few patients. Participants reported that PBH referrals did not add extra burden to PCPs and their workflows, and on average, took 5 minutes to have a PBH related conversation with patients. The PBH eligibility flag, specifically developed to provide clinical support for PCPs at the point of care, was perceived as clinically appropriate and helpful in increasing provider confidence and comfort in referring patients. Specifically, the flag contained enough information for PCPs to have the PBH conversation and for patients to decide whether the referred digital intervention would be optimal. Most PCPs felt PBH positively impacted their jobs, including increasing self-efficacy in referring patients to behavioral health services and PBH specifically, the optionality that PBH provided to patients as a treatment alternative, and improved access for patient care. PCPs identified several adaptations, such as expanding PBH to other types of visits (e.g., sick visits), building buffer time between training and starting to refer patients, and optimizing workflow for check-out staff when booking follow-up appointments. The results have the potential to successfully leverage primary care as frontline in addressing the access to care problem in behavioral health.