Name
G12 - Beyond Warm Handoffs: Expanding Behavioral Health Access Through an Adapted PCBH Model in a Community Practice
Date & Time
Friday, October 9, 2026, 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Location Name
Sterling 3 (2nd Floor)
Description

This session presents a Year One evaluation of an adapted Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model implemented in a smaller community-based primary care clinic with one embedded LCSW. Participants will learn how same-day warm handoffs, needs-responsive follow-up care, and structured EMR tracking were operationalized to support sustainability and scalability. We will share data from first year including:

  • volume and utilization
  • payer-mix and demographics
  • patient risk composite scores
  • patient and provider satisfaction
  • workflow, lessons learned

The session highlights how this donor-initiated pilot is being evaluated for replication across UNC Health Medical Group to bridge behavioral health access gaps. Als share and discuss strategies for successful implementation in community-based primary care practices.

Speakers
Erik Butler, MD
Jacqueline Fuentes, MSW, LCSW
Content Level
All Audience
Tags
Patient-centered care or Patient perspectives, Primary Care Behavioral Health Model, Research and evaluation
Session Type
Concurrent
Describe how PCBH principles can be adapted for implementation in a smaller primary care clinic with a single embedded behavioral health clinician.
Identify documentation and workflow strategies, including EMR smart phrases, that support tracking of warm handoffs, non-billable coordination, and sustainability metrics.
Discuss how same-day access and needs-responsive engagement can expand behavioral health access across diverse payer groups and older adult populations.

Maeng DD, Martsolf GR, Scanlon DP, Christianson JB. Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration and Healthcare Utilization: A Pragmatic Evaluation. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research. 2022

Nilsen P, et al. Integrating the Primary Care Behavioral Health Model into Routine Care. BMC Health Services Research. 2026.

Gurfinkel D, et al. Patient Perspectives of Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health. 2024.

Kim J, et al. Integrated Behavioral Health Services and Psychosocial Outcomes in Primary Care. JAMA Network Open. 2025