Demonstrating the Impact of Colocated Behavioral Health in Pediatric Primary Care

Objective: It is critical to address the behavioral health (BH) needs of youth given the high prevalence of diagnosable BH concerns prior to age 18 and the barriers for accessing BH services. To improve access, integration of BH services with primary care is increasing. The colocated model is one proposed method for increasing access to BH services for children. The current study sought to provide demonstration data for colocated BH services within the pediatric medical home. Method: A retrospective review of 694 new BH patient charts ranging from 1–18 years from 9 primary care clinics across three states participated. Data on number of sessions attended with a BH provider, report of homework completion (where relevant), clinician rating of adherence, and improvement ratings were collected. Results: Across all sites, 85% of referred patients attended their first appointment, and 84% of patients showed improvement over a 6-month period. Conclusions: This study is among the first to provide outcome data demonstrating the effectiveness of the colocated model for delivering BH services in primary care. Data provide information on the relationship between patient outcomes and adherence to recommendations delivered during colocated BH treatment. High attendance rates at initial appointment and overall improvement ratings were observed, suggesting the colocated BH model is a feasible model to improve access and outcomes in pediatric BH services.