Primary Care Behavioral Health Program

Bedford-Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA Medical Center

Bedford, MA

Organization Type: 
Government
Program Type: 
Standing Program
Education Level: 
Graduate
Postgraduate (e.g., residency, fellowship)
Educational Elements: 
Lecture/Didactic
Independent Study
Experiential not including services to patients
Experiential including clinical contact with patients
Program Description: 

The Bedford-Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA Medical Center has a Primary Care Behavioral Health program missioned to integrate mental health services into primary care settings as a means to treating the person as a whole by fostering relationships between mental health and primary care providers.  The program is co-located in a primary care clinic and offers both an internship program and a postdoctoral residency program.  Collaboratively working with primary care staff, program participants learn how to deliver effective treatments of common mental health conditions, as well as medical conditions with behavioral health components. The team consists of psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical nurse specialists, social workers, peer specialists, and trainees for each program of these disciplines.  This multidisciplinary approach offers integrated collaborative care that promotes joint relationships between mental health specialists and primary care providers who share responsibility for the care of patients from their independent sessions. The program also features a side-by-side work environment wherein care providers work together in dual interviews, as well as in group medical appointments as co-facilitators.

Evaluated: 
Yes
Program Results: 

This interprofessional training program is overseen by the psychology service training program that is accredited by the American Psychological Association for both internship and postdoctoral training. Initially accredited in 2002, reacredited in 2008, this program's next accreditation site visit is scheduled for 2015.

Targeted Professions
Social Work: 
Psychiatric social work
Psychology: 
Clinical
Counseling
Clinical Health
Other: 
Psychiatry, Clinical Nurse Specialist
Program Website
Self-Reported Competencies
PCPCC’s Education and Training Task Force identified 16 interprofessional training competencies critical for preparing health professionals for practicing in team-based, coordinated care models such as patient-centered medical homes. Listed below are the self-reported competencies that this program has achieved, which have been organized by the five core features of a medical home as defined by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Patient-Centered Care Competencies: 
Advocacy for patient-centered integrated care
Cultural sensitivity and competence in culturally appropriate practice
Development of effective, caring relationships with patients
Patient-centered care planning, including collaborative decision-making and patient self-management
Comprehensive Care Competencies: 
Assessment of biopsychosocial needs across the lifespan
Population-based approaches to health care delivery
Risk identification
Coordinated Care Competencies: 
Care coordination for comprehensive care of patient & family in the community
Health information technology, including e-communications with patients & other providers
Interprofessionalism & interdisciplinary team collaboration
Team leadership
Quality Care & Safety Competencies: 
Assessment of patient outcomes
Evidence-based practice
Quality improvement methods, including assessment of patient-experience for use in practice-based improvement efforts
Accessible Care Competencies: 
Promotion of appropriate access to care (e.g., group appointments, open scheduling)
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