Psychologists and pediatricians: Opportunities for collaboration in primary care.

Abstract

Despite an early interest in pediatrics among psychologists and a natural partnership between psychology and pediatrics, psychologists' impact on services for children in primary care settings could be much greater than it is. The purpose of this article is to describe the special contributions of pediatric psychologists and pediatricians in the development of comprehensive, integrated systems of health care for children; the importance of health behavior change as a preventive measure in the lives of children and adolescents; and how psychologists, through their leadership in clinical, research, and advocacy efforts, can harness the important resources of family relationships to promote the health of children.

Topical Review: Building Competency: Professional Skills for Pediatric Psychologists in Integrated Primary Care Settings

“…Pediatric psychologists are well suited for IPC practice (Stancin & Perrin, 2014 IPC -Specific Behavioral Anchors 2.1.A. Conducts pediatric research in multiple settings (e.g., medical, home, school), applying sound research methodology, data collection techniques, and data analytic approaches…”

“…These are not new initiatives, as the integration of psychology services in pediatric primary care was first described in 1967 (Smith, Rome, & Freedheim, 1967) and later expanded on by Carolyn Schroeder (Schroeder, 1979(Schroeder, , 2004). Schroeder's early model of psychology services in pediatric primary care settings included clinical, teaching, research, community advocacy, and public health components with opportunities for "call-in" hours for parents, parenting groups, brief visits for parents to discuss individual concerns, and developmental screening (Stancin & Perrin, 2014). IPC services later expanded to include prevention programs and direct clinical care for children and families.…”

“…Such competencies are of particular importance if psychologists are to differentiate their skill sets from other behavioral health providers and to present a compelling case of their "value added" to IPC settings (Stancin & Perrin, 2014).…”

“…As experts in human behavior, psychologists work closely with integrated team members to identify processes that enhance healthy behaviors and lifestyles, promote treatment adherence, and reduce disease (APA, 2014). Psychologists also provide early intervention services, assessment, and treatment for behavioral, emotional, and developmental needs to promote overall health and well-being for children and families (Stancin & Perrin, 2014).…”

Professional practices, training, and funding mechanisms: A survey of pediatric primary care psychologists.

“…Many areas of healthcare perform below expectations in the United States, with mental health services being particularly lacking (Schoen, Davis, How, & Schoenbaum, 2006). In pediatric healthcare, it is estimated that less than half of children in need of mental health treatment receive intervention (Stancin & Perrin, 2014). Pediatric primary care (PPC) is often the first stop for families with behavioral, emotional, or developmental concerns for their children with 40-70% percent of people seeking behavioral health services exclusively in primary care (Kessler & Stafford, 2008).…”