Skip to main content

Main menu

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • The Editing Fellowship
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • Other Publications
    • abfm

User menu

Search

  • Advanced search
American Board of Family Medicine
  • Other Publications
    • abfm
American Board of Family Medicine

American Board of Family Medicine

Advanced Search

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • The Editing Fellowship
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • JABFM on Bluesky
  • JABFM On Facebook
  • JABFM On Twitter
  • JABFM On YouTube
Research ArticleOriginal Research

Preparing the Workforce for Behavioral Health and Primary Care Integration

Jennifer Hall, Deborah J. Cohen, Melinda Davis, Rose Gunn, Alexander Blount, David A. Pollack, William L. Miller, Corey Smith, Nancy Valentine and Benjamin F. Miller
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine September 2015, 28 (Supplement 1) S41-S51; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2015.S1.150054
Jennifer Hall
From the Department of Family Medicine (JH, DJC, MD, RG), and Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology (DJC.), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network (MD), Portland; Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AB), University of Massachusetts, Worcester; Department of Psychiatry (DAP), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Department of Family Medicine (WLM), Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA; MidValley Family Practice (CS), Basalt, CO; Department of Health Systems Science (NV), Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Chicago, IL; and Department of Family Medicine (BFM), University of Colorado, Aurora.
MPH
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Deborah J. Cohen
From the Department of Family Medicine (JH, DJC, MD, RG), and Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology (DJC.), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network (MD), Portland; Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AB), University of Massachusetts, Worcester; Department of Psychiatry (DAP), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Department of Family Medicine (WLM), Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA; MidValley Family Practice (CS), Basalt, CO; Department of Health Systems Science (NV), Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Chicago, IL; and Department of Family Medicine (BFM), University of Colorado, Aurora.
PhD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Melinda Davis
From the Department of Family Medicine (JH, DJC, MD, RG), and Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology (DJC.), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network (MD), Portland; Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AB), University of Massachusetts, Worcester; Department of Psychiatry (DAP), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Department of Family Medicine (WLM), Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA; MidValley Family Practice (CS), Basalt, CO; Department of Health Systems Science (NV), Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Chicago, IL; and Department of Family Medicine (BFM), University of Colorado, Aurora.
PhD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Rose Gunn
From the Department of Family Medicine (JH, DJC, MD, RG), and Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology (DJC.), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network (MD), Portland; Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AB), University of Massachusetts, Worcester; Department of Psychiatry (DAP), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Department of Family Medicine (WLM), Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA; MidValley Family Practice (CS), Basalt, CO; Department of Health Systems Science (NV), Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Chicago, IL; and Department of Family Medicine (BFM), University of Colorado, Aurora.
MA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Alexander Blount
From the Department of Family Medicine (JH, DJC, MD, RG), and Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology (DJC.), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network (MD), Portland; Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AB), University of Massachusetts, Worcester; Department of Psychiatry (DAP), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Department of Family Medicine (WLM), Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA; MidValley Family Practice (CS), Basalt, CO; Department of Health Systems Science (NV), Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Chicago, IL; and Department of Family Medicine (BFM), University of Colorado, Aurora.
EdD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
David A. Pollack
From the Department of Family Medicine (JH, DJC, MD, RG), and Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology (DJC.), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network (MD), Portland; Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AB), University of Massachusetts, Worcester; Department of Psychiatry (DAP), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Department of Family Medicine (WLM), Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA; MidValley Family Practice (CS), Basalt, CO; Department of Health Systems Science (NV), Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Chicago, IL; and Department of Family Medicine (BFM), University of Colorado, Aurora.
MD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
William L. Miller
From the Department of Family Medicine (JH, DJC, MD, RG), and Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology (DJC.), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network (MD), Portland; Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AB), University of Massachusetts, Worcester; Department of Psychiatry (DAP), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Department of Family Medicine (WLM), Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA; MidValley Family Practice (CS), Basalt, CO; Department of Health Systems Science (NV), Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Chicago, IL; and Department of Family Medicine (BFM), University of Colorado, Aurora.
MD, MA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Corey Smith
From the Department of Family Medicine (JH, DJC, MD, RG), and Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology (DJC.), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network (MD), Portland; Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AB), University of Massachusetts, Worcester; Department of Psychiatry (DAP), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Department of Family Medicine (WLM), Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA; MidValley Family Practice (CS), Basalt, CO; Department of Health Systems Science (NV), Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Chicago, IL; and Department of Family Medicine (BFM), University of Colorado, Aurora.
PsyD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Nancy Valentine
From the Department of Family Medicine (JH, DJC, MD, RG), and Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology (DJC.), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network (MD), Portland; Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AB), University of Massachusetts, Worcester; Department of Psychiatry (DAP), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Department of Family Medicine (WLM), Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA; MidValley Family Practice (CS), Basalt, CO; Department of Health Systems Science (NV), Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Chicago, IL; and Department of Family Medicine (BFM), University of Colorado, Aurora.
RN, PhD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Benjamin F. Miller
From the Department of Family Medicine (JH, DJC, MD, RG), and Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology (DJC.), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Oregon Rural Practice-Based Research Network (MD), Portland; Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (AB), University of Massachusetts, Worcester; Department of Psychiatry (DAP), Oregon Health & Science University, Portland; Department of Family Medicine (WLM), Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA; MidValley Family Practice (CS), Basalt, CO; Department of Health Systems Science (NV), Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Chicago, IL; and Department of Family Medicine (BFM), University of Colorado, Aurora.
PsyD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Purpose: To identify how organizations prepare clinicians to work together to integrate behavioral health and primary care.

Methods: Observational cross-case comparison study of 19 U.S. practices, 11 participating in Advancing Care Together, and 8 from the Integration Workforce Study. Practices varied in size, ownership, geographic location, and experience delivering integrated care. Multidisciplinary teams collected data (field notes from direct practice observations, semistructured interviews, and online diaries as reported by practice leaders) and then analyzed the data using a grounded theory approach.

Results: Organizations had difficulty finding clinicians possessing the skills and experience necessary for working in an integrated practice. Practices newer to integration underestimated the time and resources needed to train and organizationally socialize (onboard) new clinicians. Through trial and error, practices learned that clinicians needed relevant training to work effectively as integrated care teams. Training efforts exclusively targeting behavioral health clinicians (BHCs) and new employees were incomplete if primary care clinicians (PCCs) and others in the practice also lacked experience working with BHCs and delivering integrated care. Organizations' methods for addressing employees' need for additional preparation included hiring a consultant to provide training, sending employees to external training programs, hosting residency or practicum training programs, or creating their own internal training program. Onboarding new employees through the development of training manuals; extensive shadowing processes; and protecting time for ongoing education, mentoring, and support opportunities for new and established clinicians and staff were featured in these internal training programs.

Conclusion: Insufficient training capacity and practical experience opportunities continue to be major barriers to supplying the workforce needed for effective behavioral health and primary care integration. Until the training capacity grows to meet the demand, practices must put forth considerable effort and resources to train their own employees.

  • Behavioral Medicine
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Integrated
  • Primary Health Care
  • Qualitative Research
View Full Text
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

The Journal of the American Board of Family     Medicine: 28 (Supplement 1)
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Vol. 28, Issue Supplement 1
September-October 2015
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Cover (PDF)
  • Index by author
  • Back Matter (PDF)
  • Front Matter (PDF)
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Board of Family Medicine.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Preparing the Workforce for Behavioral Health and Primary Care Integration
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Board of Family Medicine
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Board of Family Medicine web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
3 + 5 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Citation Tools
Preparing the Workforce for Behavioral Health and Primary Care Integration
Jennifer Hall, Deborah J. Cohen, Melinda Davis, Rose Gunn, Alexander Blount, David A. Pollack, William L. Miller, Corey Smith, Nancy Valentine, Benjamin F. Miller
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Sep 2015, 28 (Supplement 1) S41-S51; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2015.S1.150054

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Preparing the Workforce for Behavioral Health and Primary Care Integration
Jennifer Hall, Deborah J. Cohen, Melinda Davis, Rose Gunn, Alexander Blount, David A. Pollack, William L. Miller, Corey Smith, Nancy Valentine, Benjamin F. Miller
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Sep 2015, 28 (Supplement 1) S41-S51; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2015.S1.150054
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Methods
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Conclusion
    • Acknowledgments
    • Notes
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Primary care in the world of integrated care systems: education and training for general practice
  • Characteristics of Family Physicians Practicing Collaboratively With Behavioral Health Professionals
  • The Practical Approach to Care Kit (PACK) training programme: scaling up and sustaining support for health workers to improve primary care
  • Scoping review protocol: education initiatives for medical psychiatry collaborative care
  • Outcomes of Integrated Behavioral Health with Primary Care
  • From Our Practices to Yours: Key Messages for the Journey to Integrated Behavioral Health
  • Advancing Care Together by Integrating Primary Care and Behavioral Health
  • Strategies to Support the Integration of Behavioral Health and Primary Care: What Have We Learned Thus Far?
  • Clinician Staffing, Scheduling, and Engagement Strategies Among Primary Care Practices Delivering Integrated Care
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Evaluating Pragmatism of Lung Cancer Screening Randomized Trials with the PRECIS-2 Tool
  • Perceptions and Preferences for Defining Biosimilar Products in Prescription Drug Promotion
  • Successful Implementation of Integrated Behavioral Health
Show more Original Research

Similar Articles

Keywords

  • Behavioral Medicine
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Integrated
  • Primary Health Care
  • Qualitative Research

Navigate

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues

Authors & Reviewers

  • Info For Authors
  • Info For Reviewers
  • Submit A Manuscript/Review

Other Services

  • Get Email Alerts
  • Classifieds
  • Reprints and Permissions

Other Resources

  • Forms
  • Contact Us
  • ABFM News

© 2025 American Board of Family Medicine

Powered by HighWire