A trailblazing medical organization has successfully augmented its established Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) program by adopting the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM). Rather than transitioning entirely, this organization broadened its care delivery by integrating bachelor's level Behavioral Health Care Managers into the CoCM framework. The use of bachelor’s level Behavioral Health Care Managers ensures that all team members are operating at the peak of their professional capacities. These team members have become integral parts of this expanded care model. The expanded training provided to the bachelor’s level team members will be discussed, including lessons learned from the initial pilot of CoCM adoption. Their inclusion enriches both the PCBH and CoCM programs, leading to improved patient outcomes and enhanced care efficiency. This strategic approach exemplifies an effective model of integrated health care delivery. Further, this innovation has allowed for enhanced opportunities for career pathways internally by investing in internal training opportunities as well as creating a pipeline for existing fellowship programs. We will discuss efforts to coordinate the expansion of CoCM within an already existing PCBH training program, leading to opportunities for diversifying the care team with various interdisciplinary professionals.
Daniela Vela Hernandez LMFT, Technical Assistance Associate, Collaborative Family Healthcare Association, Imperial, CA
Meghan Fondow Ph.D., Director of Behavioral Health, Access Community Health Centers, Madison, WI
