Primary Care Pediatric Practices Respond to Mental Health Needs by Providing Integrated Behavioral Health Services

Anchor Pediatrics, Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP) and Hasbro Pediatric Primary Care have successfully completed the two-year Pediatric IBH program. At the July meeting, the Cohort 1 practices shared successes, challenges and lessons learned. The enormous value of having an Integrated Behavioral Health Clinician on staff was a common theme among practices especially with the increased incidence of behavioral health needs of youth and families during COVID-19.  Practices also shared stories of patients benefiting from their IBH Clinician’s care. The meeting concluded with Christina Tortolani, PhD presenting on Eating Disorders.

The Cohort 1 IBH practice will continue to participate and share their sustainability efforts at the quarterly best practice sharing meetings. Practices in Cohort 2 (Coastal Bald Hill Pediatrics, Coastal Waterman Pediatrics, Hasbro Medicine Pediatrics, Northern RI Pediatrics, and Tri-County) will complete the two-year program in April 2022. The Pediatric Primary Care IBH program is made possible through the generous support of the Rhode Island Foundation/Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI, Tufts Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare.