Please break the silence: Parents’ views on communication between pediatric primary care and mental health providers.

Abstract

Introduction The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of parents’ preferences regarding the sharing of information between their children's primary care and mental health providers. Methods Fifty-five parents with a child who was actively engaged in mental health treatment completed an anonymous survey while accompanying their child to either a primary care or mental health clinic appointment. This brief measure elicited parents’ experiences with and preferences for treatment coordination across their children's primary care and mental health providers, with a focus on communication practices. Results Parents consistently described communication amongst their children's primary care and mental health providers as important, yet frequently reported that such communication was not currently taking place. Further, parents reported that they were often called upon to act as “communication bridges” between professionals caring for their children. Discussion Implications for the collaborative pediatric and mental health care of children as well as recommendations for improving communication between mental health and pediatric providers are discussed.

Is it time to talk? Understanding specialty child mental healthcare providers' decisions to engage in interdisciplinary communication with pediatricians

“…Collaborative communication among interprofessional providers treating childhood mental health is essential to making these partnerships effective, as without it there is a risk of fragmentation and service duplication. Coordinated communication between providers has been well received by parents of children (Greene et al, 2015) and is associated with positive family-provider relations and pediatric healthcare outcomes (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2014; Priddis & Wells, 2011). …”

A preliminary survey of pediatricians’ experiences with and preferences for communication with mental health specialists.

“…In contrast, our preliminary survey suggests that many pediatricians and MH specialists have yet to enact regular collaborative communication, a necessary ingredient for integrated care (Kelleher et al, 2006). Indeed, most pediatricians we surveyed did not describe systematic collaborative communication practices, despite recent calls in the literature and professional advocacy for collaborative partnerships (e.g., AACAP, 2010; Greene et al, 2015). The pediatricians we surveyed face a difficult situation.…”

“…Research highlights challenges to productive collaborative communication. Less than one third of pediatricians report routine communication with MH specialists to whom they refer (Pfefferle, 2007), even though patients’ parents desire collaborative consultation (Greene, Ford, Ward-Zimmerman, & Foster, 2015). In an instructive commentary, Wong and Talmi (2015) stated, “.…”

Strengthening the Coordination of Pediatric Mental Health and Medical Care: Piloting a Collaborative Model for Freestanding Practices

“…Respondents also provided feedback on proposed relationship-building methods including joint trainings, continuing professional education sessions, case conferences, meetings and e-mail exchanges with the goal of establishing relationships and increasing knowledge about each other’s areas of expertise and expectations. Researchers also surveyed the clinical providers at each practice to ascertain their current practices and attitudes, and distributed a questionnaire to parents in the practices to identify their experiences with, and preferences for, treatment coordination and communication amongst their children’s providers (see Greene, Ford, Ward-Zimmerman, & Foster, 2015). …”