Changes in the Role of Behavioral Health Professionals

Changes in the Role of Behavioral Health Professionals

The diversity of healthcare needs requires a diverse workforce, including various physician and nurse specialties, behavioral professionals, educators, and other care providers. The integration of the services of all care providers is viewed as a feasible approach to overcoming delivery challenges due to scattered care services with an impact on improving health outcomes and patient care experiences (Baxter et al., 2018). An integrated healthcare model means that all healthcare professionals, including behavioral and medical professionals, work collaboratively to provide care services that encompass medical and mental health services. Behavioral health professionals provide care services such as behavioral management that promote mental health.

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Research shows a significant relationship between behavioral and mental wellness and physical health outcomes (Dean et al., 2018). There is also a close link between the mental wellness of both care providers and patients and the development of positive patient-provider relationships (Hong et al., 2021). This has made behavioral health professionals’ role a critical part of the health care system. The changes in legislation and an increase in organizations adopting the integrated health model have impacted the role and accessibility of behavioral health professionals.

The legislation changes have allowed behavioral health professionals to operate in in-patient and outpatient care settings, community mental health centers, and schools, besides using only in private practice. The integrated care models support the collaboration between behavioral health professionals and primary care physicians to develop patient-centered care plans that meet their physical, emotional, and mental health needs. Conclusively, legislation changes and increased healthcare organizations adopting integrated care models have improved the visibility and recognition of the behavioral health professionals’ role as an essential part of the healthcare system.

 References

Baxter, S., Johnson, M., Chambers, D., Sutton, A., Goyder, E., & Booth, A. (2018). The effects of integrated care: a systematic review of U.K… and international evidence. BMC Health Services Research 2018 18:1, 18(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12913-018-3161-3

Dean, J. H., Shanahan, D. F., Bush, R., Gaston, K. J., Lin, B. B., Barber, E., Franco, L., & Fuller, R. A. (2018). Is Nature Relatedness Associated with Better Mental and Physical Health? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2018, Vol. 15, Page 1371, 15(7), 1371. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH15071371

Hong, Y. R., Yadav, S., Suk, R., Khanijahani, A., Erim, D., & Turner, K. (2021). Patient-provider discussion about emotional and social needs, mental health outcomes, and benefit finding among U.S. Adults living with cancer. Cancer Medicine, 10(11), 3622–3634. https://doi.org/10.1002/CAM4.3918

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Changes in the Role of Behavioral Health Professionals

With changes in legislation and an increase in organizations encompassing the integrated healthcare model, how has the role of behavioral health professionals changed over time?