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Explication of a Behavioral Health-Primary Care Integration Learning Collaborative and Its Quality Improvement Implications

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Abstract

In an effort to tackle fragmented care in the US healthcare delivery system, we explored the use of learning collaborative (LC) to advance integration of behavioral health and primary care as one of the potential solutions to a holistic approach to the delivery of quality healthcare to individuals with physical and mental illness. How a diverse group of primary care and behavioral health providers formed a Community of Practice (CoP) with a common purpose and shared vision to advance integrated care using a LC approach is described. An account of their learning experience, key components of their quality improvement, practice changes, clinical processes, and improved outcomes are explained. This paper aims at describing the history, creative design, processes, roles of the CoP and impact of the LC on the advancement of integrated care practice and quality improvements for further exploration and replications.

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Acknowledgements

Integrated Care Practice Change and Quality Improvement (ICPCQI) initiative was funded by Grants from Kaiser Permanente and Georgia State Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). We thank the patients, staff, and providers at Asa G. Yancey Health Center, Mercy Care Services, Neighborhood Union Health Center, North Fulton Service Center, Cobb County Community Service Board (CSB) and McIntosh Trail CSB for their participation in the Learning Community and ICPCQI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yale University School of Nursing, New Heaven, CT, USA

    Martha Okafor

  2. Frank H. Netter School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, North Haven, CT, USA

    Martha Okafor

  3. Division of Behavioral Health, The Satcher Health Leadership Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA

    Martha Okafor, Victor Ede & Rosemary Kinuthia

  4. Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

    Rosemary Kinuthia

  5. The Satcher Health Leadership Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA

    David Satcher

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  1. Martha Okafor
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  2. Victor Ede
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  3. Rosemary Kinuthia
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  4. David Satcher
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Correspondence to Victor Ede.

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There are no commercial associations that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with this manuscript. All authors certified responsibility for the study.

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Okafor, M., Ede, V., Kinuthia, R. et al. Explication of a Behavioral Health-Primary Care Integration Learning Collaborative and Its Quality Improvement Implications. Community Ment Health J 54, 1109–1115 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-017-0230-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-017-0230-8

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