An Integrated Primary Care Approach to Help Children B-HIP!

Abstract

This article outlines a collaborative health care initiative entitled "Be Happy, Involved, and Positive (B-HIP)"-a grant-funded program through the Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation. The B-HIP program was developed in January 2009 at the Rush-Copley Medical Center to address the previously undiagnosed mental health care needs for pediatric patients in a primary care setting. This article seeks to illustrate how, through collaborative care, efforts are being made to assess and address the mental health care needs for pediatric patients, and is furthermore an attempt to share information about implementing a pediatric mental health screening for best practices of the proposed prevention program, "B-HIP." The investigators applied the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) as a standard of care for identified pediatric patients. Along with anecdotal data of the B-HIP program, an outline of the theory, design, and implementation behind the program's inception is presented.

Emerging Issues: Psychology’s Place in the Primary Care Pediatric Medical Home

“…These include modifying staff responsibilities to incorporate activities related to child development, implementing new practice protocols to guide discussions by primary care providers, providing parents with child development resources (e.g., parent groups on age-specific topics, parent libraries, educational handouts), and employing care managers to handle screening and referral of children (Stroul, 2006). In the first three issues of Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology , there have been several articles on primary care ranging from screening for behavior problems (London, Watson, & Berger, 2013), diagnosing and managing children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (Epstein, Langberg, Lichtenstein, Kolb, & Simon, 2013), and managing suicidal crises (Harrison, 2013; Wintersteen & Diamond, 2013). In addition, studies indicate that many practices are integrating mental health providers in primary care settings.…”

“…Public and private financing of mental health colocation in primary care is a critical factor to its successful development, implementation, and sustainability. Grant funds (e.g., foundations, state and federal government) are common sources of funding that have been used to initiate, develop, and implement integrated practices (London et al, 2013). Public insurance (e.g., Medicaid) is a primary source of funding for mental health services for low-income children.…”