--- title: "PCP use of navigators for adolescent behavioral health. | Sutter Health" description: "We studied PCP adoption of behavioral health navigation services over a 4-year period (July 2014 to June 2018) in a large ambulatory health system." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/pcp-use-of-navigators-for-adolescent-behavioral-health-1055312780" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. PCP use of navigators for adolescent behavioral health. # Primary care provider utilization and satisfaction with a health system navigation program for adolescents with behavioral health needs. Yang Y, Dillon EC, Li M, Li J, Erlich KJ, Heneghan AM, & Becker DF. _Transl Behav Med. 9(3):549-559. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibz049._ 2019-05-16 ## Abstract Approximately 49.5% of the adolescents report a mental health disorder; only about half of the children and adolescents with mental health disorders seek treatment from a mental health professional. Stigma and poor access to behavioral health providers are leading barriers to care. A large ambulatory health system implemented a BH navigation program to facilitate referrals from primary care physicians (PCPs), including pediatricians and family physicians, to BH providers. We studied PCP adoption of BH navigation services over a 4-year period, from July 2014 to June 2018. We retrieved operational data regarding service utilization, patient information from electronic health records and PCP information from administrative data, and surveyed PCPs for their appraisals of navigation services. Four thousand five hundred and fifty-five referrals were made for 3,912 patients from 290 PCPs (71% of PCPs in the health system). Depression (39%), anxiety (25%), and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (7%) were the most frequent reasons for referral. Referrals increased dramatically in the first half of the study period and decreased afterwards. Ninety-one percent of the PCPs agreed or strongly agreed that navigation enhanced their clinical care at 12-month survey. More than 90% of the PCPs rated the referral process, communication with navigation staff, and the overall experience as above average or excellent at 12 months. There was a decrease in these evaluation indicators after 2.5 years. The initial high referral volume reflects a need for BH navigation services. However, challenges remain to maintain positive PCP assessment in the face of such demand. [PubMed abstract](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31094446) ## Research topics - [Child and Adolescent Health](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Child+and+Adolescent+Health%5C%22%22) - [Mental Health](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Mental+Health%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Primary care nurse practitioner management of adolescent behavioral health.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/primary-care-np-management-of-teen-behavioral-health-1055312814) Dillon EC, Erlich KJ, Li J, Li M, Becker DF. Am J Manag Care. 2020 Sep 1;26(9):e295-e299. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2020.88495. 2020 Sep 01 - Publication ### [John & Marcia Goldman Foundation Donates $100K to Improve Behavioral Health in Teens](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/teen-behavioral-health-care-1055312809) Palo Alto Medical Foundation Marketing & Communications, Jan. 15, 2015 Palo Alto Medical Foundation Newsroom Blog 2015 Jan 15 - Publication ### [Pushing and coasting in dynamic goal pursuit: coasting is attenuated in bipolar disorder.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/coasting-is-attentuated-in-bipolar-disorder-1055312618) Fulford D, Johnson SL, Llabre MM, Carver CS. Psychol Sci. 21(7):1021-7. doi: 10.1177/0956797610373372. Epub 2010 Jun 2. 2010 Jul 01 - Publication ### [Symptom dimensions and functional impairment in early psychosis: more to the story than just negative symptoms.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/symptoms-functional-impairment-in-early-psychosis-1055312610) Fulford D, Niendam TA, Floyd EG, Carter CS, Mathalon DH, Vinogradov S, Stuart BK, Loewy RL. Schizophr Res. 147(1):125-31. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2013.03.024. Epub 2013 Apr 12. 2013 Jun 01 - Publication ### [Emotion perception and quality of life in bipolar I disorder.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/emotion-perception-qol-in-bipolar-i-disorder-1055312597) Fulford D, Peckham AD, Johnson K, Johnson SL. J Affect Disord. 152-154:491-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.08.034. Epub 2013 Sep 7. 2014 Jan 01 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/pcp-use-of-navigators-for-adolescent-behavioral-health-1055312780#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"PCP use of navigators for adolescent behavioral health."}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/pcp-use-of-navigators-for-adolescent-behavioral-health-1055312780#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Primary care provider utilization and satisfaction with a health system navigation program for adolescents with behavioral health needs.","headline":"PCP use of navigators for adolescent behavioral health.","abstract":"Approximately 49.5% of the adolescents report a mental health disorder; only about half of the children and adolescents with mental health disorders seek treatment from a mental health professional. Stigma and poor access to behavioral health providers are leading barriers to care. A large ambulatory health system implemented a BH navigation program to facilitate referrals from primary care physicians (PCPs), including pediatricians and family physicians, to BH providers. We studied PCP adoption of BH navigation services over a 4-year period, from July 2014 to June 2018. We retrieved operational data regarding service utilization, patient information from electronic health records and PCP information from administrative data, and surveyed PCPs for their appraisals of navigation services. Four thousand five hundred and fifty-five referrals were made for 3,912 patients from 290 PCPs (71% of PCPs in the health system). Depression (39%), anxiety (25%), and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (7%) were the most frequent reasons for referral. Referrals increased dramatically in the first half of the study period and decreased afterwards. Ninety-one percent of the PCPs agreed or strongly agreed that navigation enhanced their clinical care at 12-month survey. More than 90% of the PCPs rated the referral process, communication with navigation staff, and the overall experience as above average or excellent at 12 months. There was a decrease in these evaluation indicators after 2.5 years. The initial high referral volume reflects a need for BH navigation services. 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