Integrated behavioral health care (IBH) in primary care can improve children's access to behavioral health services, increase communication and collaboration between physical and behavioral health providers and improve outcomes for patients.
Children, adolescents and families are more likely to use behavioral health services offered through their primary care provider. Since families usually see their primary care provider regularly, behavioral health concerns are more likely to be detected early when they are easier to address.
In IBH, physical and behavioral health care services are provided within the same physical space, often with a shared medical record, workspace and staff meetings for direct discussion of patient care.
Through our interdisciplinary experience as behavioral health care leaders in children's hospitals, this white paper:
- Provides a common understanding of IBH in pediatrics.
- Proposes solutions to challenges of IBH to encourage more widespread use.
- Illuminates the value of IBH as one component of pediatric behavioral health care.
Download the full paper to learn more.
