US Air Force Behavioral Health Optimization Program: team members' satisfaction and barriers to care.

BACKGROUND: Research has shown significant contribution of integrated behavioural health care; however, less is known about the perceptions of primary care providers towards behavioural health professionals. OBJECTIVE: The current study examined barriers to care and satisfaction with integrated behavioural health care from the perspective of primary care team members. DESIGN: This study utilized archival data from 42 treatment facilities as part of ongoing program evaluation of the Air Force Medical Service's Behavioral Health Optimization Program. SETTING: This study was conducted in a large managed health care organization for active duty military and their families, with specific clinic settings that varied considerably in regards to geographic location, population diversity and size of patient empanelment. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: De-identified archival data on 534 primary care team members were examined. RESULTS: Team members at larger facilities rated access and acuity concerns as greater barriers than those from smaller facilities (t(533) = 2.57, P < 0.05). Primary Care Managers (PCMs) not only identified more barriers to integrated care (ß = -0.07, P < 0.01) but also found services more helpful to the primary care team (t(362.52) = 1.97, P = 0.05). Barriers to care negatively impacted perceived helpfulness of integrated care services for patients (ß = -0.12, P < 0.01) and team members, particularly among non-PCMs (ß = -0.11, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the potential benefits of targeted training that differs in facilities of larger empanelment and is mindful of team members' individual roles in a Patient Centered Medical Home. In particular, although generally few barriers were perceived, given the impact these barriers have on perception of care, efforts should be made to decrease perceived barriers to integrated behavioural health care among non-PCM team members.

Armed Forces occupational health--a review.

BACKGROUND: The Armed Forces operate in a particularly arduous physical and psychological environment. The occupational health (OH) of all personnel is of paramount importance to sustain the service's fighting ability. AIMS: Firstly, to bring readers up to date with the current organization and delivery of OH to uniformed personnel in the Armed Forces. Secondly, to review the research that has led to an improvement in OH services and the ways in which the Armed Forces are responding to the various challenges. METHODS: A description of the type and delivery of OH to the Armed Forces is followed by a review of the relevant contemporaneous literature from both open publications and research dissertations. RESULTS: Although there are some similarities with civilian OH, the principal requirement to prepare and sustain service personnel for operations on land, sea and air adds considerable complexity to the task. Research undertaken by Armed Forces OH professionals has added to the evidence base and enabled attrition in all aspects of the Armed Forces to be reduced. CONCLUSIONS: To meet the challenges of the 21st century, Armed Forces OH practitioners must continue to provide the best evidence-based advice to enhance force preparation and sustainment. All consultations in the Armed Forces involve an OH consideration from the simplest consultations through to the input from specialist OH practitioners. While the assessment of fitness to work in home bases and on deployed operations remains the primary output of OH, the provision of support to command policy, procurement and research are also key to the ability to operate worldwide.