Name
Beyond Mental Health: Empowering BHCs to Expand Their Medical Impact
Description

Integrated care models emphasize whole‑person, biopsychosocial treatment, yet many Behavioral Health Clinicians continue to receive predominantly mental‑health‑focused referrals, limiting their impact on medical conditions such as chronic disease, chronic pain, and lifestyle‑related concerns. This misalignment not only reduces the effectiveness of integrated care but also contributes to clinician burnout when expectations for team‑based medical collaboration do not match day‑to‑day practice. This presentation will explore system‑level factors that drive mental‑health‑only referral patterns and discuss their implications for patient care, team functioning, and BHC role sustainability. Practical strategies will be offered to help BHCs advocate for and increase medical‑based referrals within their clinics, strengthening comprehensive care and reinforcing the full scope of their professional expertise.

Co-Authors
Tyson Payne, PsyD
Elisa Rudd, PsyD
Content Level
Intermediate
Tags
Medical, Population and public health, Team-based care
Session Type
Concurrent
Objective 1
Identify system‑level factors that contribute to mental‑health‑dominant referral patterns in integrated care settings.
Objective 2
Describe the clinical and workforce impacts of limited medical‑based referrals on patient outcomes, team functioning, and BHC role satisfaction.
Objective 3
Apply practical advocacy and workflow strategies that BHCs can use to increase medical‑based referrals and strengthen whole‑person, biopsychosocial care within their clinics.
Content Reference 1

Van Hoy A and Rzeszutek M (2022) Burnout and Psychological Wellbeing Among Psychotherapists: A Systematic Review. Front. Psychol. 13:928191. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.928191

Content Reference 2

Wahass S. H. (2005). The role of psychologists in health care delivery. Journal of family & community medicine, 12(2), 63–70.

Content Reference 3

Behavioral Consultation and Primary Care: A Guide to Integrating Services Third Edition 2025 by Patricia J. Robinson (Author), Jeffrey T. Reiter (Author)