Historically, integrated primary care (IPC) has served as the first-line and sometimes only point of treatment for many mental and behavioral health conditions. With a soaring demand for primary care provider (PCP) and BHPs’ limited time and resources in IPC clinics, the need for additional care management and scaffolding of care between patient appointments would greatly aid in the treatment of mental health concerns in IPC settings. Mobile health (mHealth) apps can provide a means to address healthcare disparities and combat common barriers to accessing behavioral health care experienced by underserved populations in IPC settings. Utilizing Hertlein and Blumer’s (2014) Couple and Family Technology (CFT) Framework this presentation addresses IPC providers’ perceptions around needed changes that would facilitate increased adoption and sustained use of mHealth apps in behavioral healthcare within IPC settings. Findings from a recent study that inform new provider and clinic workflows that incorporate the use of mHealth apps into clinical treatment, as well as identify areas of potential change both in behavioral health service delivery processes and the structure of IPC settings needed to sustain the use of mHealth apps in these settings are discussed. Additionally, findings of the study that identify key stakeholders within the clinical and larger system who are instrumental in integrating mHealth app use within behavioral health care in IPC settings and further pushing the IPC healthcare system into the digital age are presented. This session will address challenges, barriers, and benefits of using mHealth applications in the behavioral health treatment within Integrated Primary Care clinical environments. Process and structural changes needed in clinic workflows, policies, and training within IPC will be discussed.
Greg Hall, Director of Behavioral Health Clinical Operations, Wake Forest University Family Medicine Residency Program Greg Hall PhD, LMFT