Behavioral Health Consultants
Statistics show that nearly half of all people with treatable behavioral health symptoms do not seek care from a behavioral health professional. However, 80 percent will visit their primary care manager (PCM) at least once a year. Emotional and behavioral factors can also have a significant impact on many health conditions.
The good news is these problems often can be prevented or addressed earlier in primary care through the support of a behavioral health consultant (BHC) working as part of the PCMH. BHCs are specially trained psychologists or social workers who focus on helping patients develop healthy behaviors or change current behaviors that interfere with overall health and well-being.
Note: Virtual visits can be utilized after initial appointment which must be in-person.
Our Services
All patients enrolled in Tricare are eligible for services. BHCs will help with problems of varying severity, and with preventive, acute and chronic care to assist in reducing symptoms, to include:
- Depression and anxiety
- Stress management
- Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors
- Relationship problems
- Chronic health conditions
- Creating healthy exercise routines
- Poor adherence to medical recommendations
- Chronic pain
|
- Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Fibromyalgia
- Sleep problems
- Fatigue
- Hypertension/heart disease
- Diabetes
- Alcohol/substance problems
- And more
|
How it Works
We DO NOT require a referral! Consultations with a BHC are usually brief (20-25 minutes per appointment) and specifically targeted to your concerns. During the consultation, your BHC will ask you a series of questions to better understand your concern and how they are impacting your health, quality of life, and functioning. The BHC will work with you to identify goals and come up with a plan to reach those goals. This plan may include providing you with information, teaching you skills, or developing a behavior change plan you can implement on your own after your visit in order to reduce some symptoms or refer to other services as needed. BHCs do not prescribe medications or provide long-term psychotherapy but can provide referrals.
The BHC will follow-up with your PCM to provide feedback and ensure all team members are aware of and can support any behavior change goals that you may have. Another option for continuing care in some PCMHs is working with a behavioral health care facilitator (BHCF). A BHCF will contact you by phone periodically to monitor your symptoms and check on how you are managing your health concerns. The care facilitator will then share your progress with your primary care team.
In many cases, care facilitators and behavioral health consultants will work together with your PCM to make quick, effective changes to your treatment and address your symptoms.
What we are not
We are not therapy.
We are not symptom extinction such as the goal of psychotherapy.
We are not medication providers.
We are not acute crisis or stepdown care.
We are not exempt from documentation.