RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES : To provide descriptive information on behavioral health (BH) productivity and billing practices within a pediatric primary care setting. METHODS : This retrospective investigation reviewed 30 months of electronic medical records and financial data. RESULTS : The percent of BH provider time spent in direct patient care (productivity) was 35.28% overall, with a slightly higher quarterly average (M = 36.42%; SD = 6.46%). In the 646.75 hr BH providers spent in the primary care setting, $52,050.00 was charged for BH services delivered ($80.48 hourly average). CONCLUSIONS : BH productivity and billing within pediatric primary care were suboptimal and likely multifactorially derived. To promote integrated primary care sustainability, the authors recommend three future aims: improve BH productivity, demonstrate the value-added contributions of BH services within primary care, and advocate for BH-supporting health care reform.
Asunto(s)
Servicios de Salud del Adolescente/organización & administración , Servicios de Salud del Niño/organización & administración , Servicios Comunitarios de Salud Mental/organización & administración , Eficiencia Organizacional/estadística & datos numéricos , Honorarios y Precios/estadística & datos numéricos , Trastornos Mentales , Atención Primaria de Salud/organización & administración , Adolescente , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Humanos , Lactante , Recién Nacido , Masculino , Trastornos Mentales/diagnóstico , Trastornos Mentales/economía , Trastornos Mentales/terapia , Estudios Retrospectivos , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
We examined the feasibility and perception of cell-based (texting, voicemail [VM], and email/social media), health-related communication with adolescents in Genesee County, MI, where 22% reside below the poverty level. Results of an anonymous survey found that 86% of respondents owned a cell phone, 87% had data, 96% texted, 90.5% emailed/used social media, and 68% had VM. Most adolescents were interested in cell-based communication via texting (52%), VM (37%), and email/social media (31%). Interest in types of health communication included appointment reminders (99% texting; 94% VM; 95% email/social media), shot reminders (84.5% texting; 74.5% VM; 81% email/social media), call for test results (71.5% texting; 75% VM; 65% email/social media), medication reminders (63% texting; 54% VM; 58% e-mail/social media), and health tips (36% texting; 18.5% VM; 73% email/social media). Cell-based health-related communication with adolescents is feasible even within low socioeconomic status populations, primarily via texting. Health providers should embrace cell-based patient communication.