These guidelines will help health care organizations estimate Behavioral Health Care Manager FTE and resources needed for Collaborative Care, based on the complexity of the program being implemented and the population served by the team. Also included in these guidelines are the typical caseload sizes in Collaborative Care studies and existing programs, such as IMPACT and the Mental Health Integration Program.
Audience: Behavioral Health Professional/Care Manager
Tips for Discussing Trauma During an Initial Assessment
Trauma can increase the risk of health, social, and emotional problems. Despite the high prevalence of patients with a past history of trauma, few clinics or Collaborative Care teams have a protocol for addressing it. These three tips can help clinicians safely and effectively discuss the trauma history of their patients during their initial assessment.
Relapse Prevention Plan (Generic)
The purpose of a relapse prevention plan is to help the patient understand their own personal warning signs. These warning signs are specific to each person and can help the patient identify when their mental health is declining so they can get help sooner – before the symptoms get bad.
The other purpose of a relapse prevention plan is to help remind the patient what has worked for them before to help them feel better. The relapse prevention plan should be filled out by the Behavioral Health Care Manager and the patient together.
Developing Protocols for Suicide Prevention in Primary Care
Primary care clinics have a responsibility to provide effective and efficient suicide safe care that is accessible to all patients and staff. Developing a thoughtful and clear protocol and workflow for responding to suicidality in your primary care setting will empower staff to know how to act as well as help keep patients and staff safe.
The document below contains information about screening and identification, conducting risk assessments, response and follow-up to suicide risk, as well as several additional resources. This information is intended to guide primary care clinics to refine existing protocol(s) for responding to patients presenting with suicidality or violent behavior in a primary care clinic.
Telehealth Tips for Behavioral Health Providers
It is increasingly common for behavioral health providers to be asked to engage patients and conduct visits by videoconferencing or other HIPAA-compliant technology. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology defines synchronous telehealth visits as “two-way audiovisual link[s] between a patient and a care provider” (Healthit.gov, 2017). This handout includes some tips for behavioral health providers to consider when conducting synchronous telehealth visits.
Note: Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, many payers have loosened billing, technology, and other requirements for conducting telehealth visits. Check first with your payer for updated guidance during this time.
AIMS Caseload Tracker
The AIMS Caseload Tracker is a web-based patient registry thoughtfully designed by the AIMS Center to support behavioral health teams working in Collaborative Care and other integrated care settings. The software can be licensed for use by health care organizations from the University of Washington.
Further details can be found on the AIMS Caseload Tracker webpage.
Pediatric Collaborative Care Implementation Guide
This guide is for multi-disciplinary, primary care teams seeking to improve care access and behavioral health outcomes for children and adolescents through implementing Collaborative Care. Centered around the core principles of Collaborative Care, this guide serves as a roadmap to healthcare leaders, managers, clinicians, and staff in primary care as they:
- start a new Collaborative Care program, or
- expand an existing integrated care or Collaborative Care program to pediatrics, and/or
- partner with community and behavioral health agencies.
For training support and technical assistance implementing Pediatric Collaborative Care reach out to the AIMS Center at: uwaims@uw.edu. Research has shown that clinics receiving implementation support from the AIMS Center have significantly better patient outcomes.
PMQ-9
The Patient Mania Questionnaire (PMQ-9) is a nine-item scale used to assess and monitor manic symptoms. The PMQ-9 Mania Questionnaire complements use of the PHQ-9 for depressive symptoms to inform measurement-based care. It is also suited for use in mental health care settings. A Spanish version of the PMQ-9 is also available.
PCL-5
The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is a 20-item self-report measure that assesses DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD. This measure was developed by staff at the Veterans Affairs (VA) National Center for PTSD. It is free for qualified health professionals and researchers to use.
AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test)
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a 10-item screening tool for use in primary care settings to assess alcohol consumption, drinking behaviors, and alcohol-related problems. The AUDIT has been validated across genders and in a wide range of racial and ethnic groups. There is both a clinician administered version and a patient self-report version.