Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Bringing A Behavioral Health Consultant To Residency: Implications For Practice And Training, Natasha Gouge, Jodi Polaha, Rebecca Powers

International Journal of Health Sciences Education

This study examined pediatric residents’ responsiveness and experiences in the context of a new pilot program, building an on-site Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) into their primary care training site. Fifteen pediatric residents were divided so that 9 had access to an on-site BHC and 6 did not. Over the first year of the program, research assistants observed 322 patient visits to record concerns raised, residents’ responses, and visit length. Data regarding BHC activity and residents’ subjective impressions of the program were also collected. Results showed that at least one BH concern was raised in 24% of observed visits. Residents with …