3 minute read Last week, the number of infections reported to the World Health Organization dropped for the third week in a row. Here in the US, recent reports suggest that numbers are dropping as well. The number of new daily coronavirus cases has dropped below 100,000 for the first time this year, according to […]
By the Numbers: 2020 Data from Clinics in Central Washington
3 minute read Efficient care and high productivity are essential elements for behavioral health consultants (BHC) practicing the Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) model. But there can be quite a bit of variability in how clinics measure quality and productivity. Metrics can include the number of patients seen, the relative value of each intervention provided, […]
Vaccination Dissemination and Uptake: A Team Effort
3 minute read The emerging COVID-19 vaccine rollout is a potential knockout blow for a pandemic that has wreaked havoc on the wellbeing of individuals and families across the globe. A new article from the editors at Families, Systems, and Health reviews the challenges of vaccine dissemination and uptake and recommends the mobilization of interprofessional […]
What Big Bird Can Teach Us About Integrated Care
5 minute read. Original post available here. Starting and sustaining a movement in healthcare is tough business, unless there is a plan and resources for dissemination. The movement to integrate behavioral health services into primary care began in diverse places, but now appears to have serious momentum. The challenges facing integration today are many and include […]
Research Review
15 minute read If you’re looking for a break from election and pandemic news, you came to the right place. This post covers the best research in integrated behavioral healthcare over the past 4-6 months. First, check out the recent special issue on pediatrics and collaborative care in the Pediatrics Annal journal. You will find […]
Survey Says: Maybe Don’t Screen So Much?
5 minute read Several years ago, I did an audit of PHQ-9 scores in our clinic and noticed that the total scores did not always match the individual item scores. Nurse, I need a calculator, stat. At the time, my team took a universal, paper-based screening approach for depression: patient answers questions on a clipboard; […]
Research Review
4 minute read As we continue to move through historic change in our healthcare and criminal justice systems, the research on integration seems to have slowed down a bit. That said, we still have some important developments helping to move the field of integrated care forward. As always, I collect and review the latest research […]
Research Review
I hope this Research Review blog post finds you virus-free and in good spirits. We are living through history right now with the COVID pandemic. Perhaps this post will give you a break from the ongoing disruptions. This is the post where I save you time searching the hottest integrated/collaborative care research literature by doing […]
Research Review
Happy Holidays everyone! Welcome to the regular Research Review blog post. The post where I save you time searching the integrated/collaborative care research literature by doing all the work myself! Use that time to buy presents for your loved ones. Here are some themes below: First, I continue to see more articles on integrated care […]
Of Conferences and Economics
5 minute read Our attention is a precious commodity these days: low supply but high demand. Even now you are “selling” your attention to “buy” the content of this blog post. Thank you! Please come again. We appreciate your business. Imagine the challenge, then, of selling a three-day conference to busy clinicians, managers, researchers, educators, […]
Family Systems and Complexity Science: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Laying in a field looking up at a partly cloudy sky, a late summer breeze pushes through the trees, portending the coming chill. The breeze sets a sleek starling to flight. Immediately, hundreds of starlings follow, with a thunderous rustle of leaves. Their silent dance above, an exquisitely choreographed molding, is a wonder. Did that […]
Family-Oriented, Not Just Family-Friendly
Recently, the Children’s Hospital Corporation in Massachusetts completed a study examining family-centered hospital rounds for doctors and nurses. Rounds are daily meetings when the care team reviews patient progress and creates a plan for the day. During rounds, staff may use confusing medical terms and neglect family input and questions. In response, the research team […]
Research Review: The Latest and Greatest
Welcome to the JUNE 2019 research review, where I review some of the latest research findings and developments in the field of integrated behavioral health. There are two trends I am seeing in the literature that comes to my email inbox. First, researchers are evaluating the impact of integration on patient populations with complex health […]
Is Yours a Learning Clinic?
In 2018, I had a sweet setup for my work commute. My friend, who also worked downtown, would pick me up at my house, use the carpool lane on the highway, and drop me off in front of my office building. When I offered to pay for gas, he refused me. “Matt, I am actually […]
The Art and Science of Measuring Integration
What do the US, Myanmar, and Liberia all have in common? They are the only countries in the world who do not commonly use the metric system of measurement. Instead of kilos, liters, and meters, we measure in pounds, gallons, and yards (i.e., the English system). No big deal, right? Well, consider that in May 1999 […]
Research Review: The Latest and Greatest
Welcome to the March 2019 research review, where I review some of the latest research findings and developments in the field of integrated behavioral health. Per usual, I include links to the articles in the headings and then snippets from the abstract below the heading. As integration becomes more of the norm and less the […]
What Is Your Philosophy of Screening? And Other Terrible Pick-Up Lines.
The title of this post is a terrible pick-up line, but it reflects my recent musings on how we identify patients in primary care who may benefit from behavioral health services. Health screening is standard practice in primary care. We screen for physical health, mental health, substance use, health behaviors, family functioning, social determinants of […]
End of Year Review in Blogging
This year is almost over, a signal it is time to highlight all the great blog posts published in 2018. We have terrific writers in the CFHA community who collectively represent unequaled experience and thinking in the field right now. Catherine Van Fossen et al wrote about a new tool that measures family functioning. They […]