Name
Bridging the Gap: Utilizing Warm Handoffs to Enhance PCP Buy-In for Integrated Care in Family Medicine Residencies
Description
This project draws from the experiences of a behavioral health team implementing warm handoffs and explores how they impact PCP buy-in within an integrated primary care system. By fostering real-time collaboration between PCPs and behavioral health providers, warm handoffs enhance provider engagement, streamline care coordination, and improve patient outcomes. We examine key factors influencing PCP investment in integration and share best practices for strengthening team-based care.
Speakers
Taylor Young PhD, Director of Behavior Health, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ
Deborah Kastiel Registered Nurse, RN Patient Navigator, Banner University Medical Group,
Jenna Buchanan MD, Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs - Medical Director, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix Family Medicine Residency,
Content Level
Intermediate
Tags
Collaborative Care Model of Integrated Care, Primary Care Behavioral Health Model, Team-based care
Session Type
Concurrent
SIG or Committee
Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH)
Objective 1
Identify key factors that influence primary care physician (PCP) buy-in for warm handoffs in integrated behavioral health (IBH) models, based on research findings and real-world data from residency clinics.
Objective 2
Describe best practices for implementing and evaluating warm handoff workflows in primary care settings to enhance provider engagement and patient outcomes.
Objective 3
Develop an action plan to improve warm handoff utilization in their own clinical or training environments using a structured quality improvement (QI) framework.
Content Reference 1
Reiter, J. T., Dobmeyer, A. C., & Hunter, C. L. (2018). The primary care behavioral health (PCBH) model: Principles, practices, and research. Springer.
Content Reference 2
American Medical Association (2021). Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) Compendium: A guide to integrating behavioral health care in physician practices. https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/bhi-compendium.pdf
Content Reference 3
Blount, A., Schoenbaum, M., Kathol, R., Rollman, B. L., Thomas, M., O'Donohue, W., & Peek, C. J. (2023). Evolving models of behavioral health integration in primary care. Milbank Memorial Fund. https://www.milbank.org/wp-content/files/documents/10430EvolvingCare/EvolvingCare.pdf
Content Reference 4
Davis, M. M., Balasubramanian, B. A., Cifuentes, M., Hall, J., Gunn, R., Fernald, D., Gilchrist, E., Miller, B. F., DeGruy, F., & Cohen, D. J. (2015). Clinician staffing, scheduling, and engagement strategies among primary care practices delivering integrated care. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 28(Supplement 1). https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2015.s1.150087
Content Reference 5
Mitchell, D., Olson, A., & Randolph, N. (2022). The impact of warm handoffs on patient engagement with behavioral health services in primary care. Journal of Rural Mental Health, 46(2), 82–87. https://doi.org/10.1037/rmh0000199