| This study explored how primary care providers at community health centers experience the integration of behavioral health methods in primary care. The study helps fill gaps in research examining primary care providers' involvement in the provision and continuity of care for those patients with mental health issues. The relevance of the study is driven by the ongoing increase of mental health illness, the expanding role of primary care providers in the provision of treatment of mental health problems, and the growing body of research that has revealed benefits of behavioral health integration in primary care. The study's methodology was qualitative inquiry using a thematic analysis of re-occurring patterns. Data was obtained through interviews with 8 primary medical care providers at community health centers who had experience with behavioral health integration. The main data source of the study was comments from the interviews that were conducted with the participants. Analysis of the data revealed five main themes: formal training, cross-collaboration, provider capacity, patient access, and improvements. The study findings revealed that specialized training of medical providers in mental health may increase their capacity to screen and treat mental health issues. It may also increase provider awareness regarding the need to address mental health issues among their patients, increase patient access to mental health services that they might not normally receive, and it may improve health outcomes for patients. Additionally, more attention needs to be given to reimbursement and funding of integrated behavioral health treatment in primary care in order to be sustained. Future research should strengthen our understanding of primary medical provider roles and unidentified needs in providing behavioral health care to their patients. |
