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Project Summary
Background
Primary care in family practice is often confronted with psychological disorders and behavioural adjustments. Since psychologists’ major expertise focuses on understanding human behaviour, increased collaboration between family physicians and psychologists should thus alleviate and complement the task of family practitioners and, therefore, enhance quality of care for patients. Research in clinical and health psychology has shown that psychological diagnosis and evidence-based treatments are effective and cost-efficient in treating a variety of mental and physical health problems.
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Objective
To assess a model of integration of psychologists in family medicine teams and interdisciplinary collaboration between family physicians and psychologists.
Methods
Integration of a psychologist within two separate primary health care settings: an urban Anglophone and a rural Francophone family clinic. During one year patients of the designated clinics have access, at no charge, to the services of certified psychologists. Patients can self-refer or be referred by their physicians. Protected time is allowed for the physicians and psychologists to get together and collaborate on patient care. For educational purposes psychologists prepare presentations on selected topics every three months based on the needs of physicians. Various questionnaires, focus groups and chart reviews are used to measure the outcomes.
Outcomes measured
Well-being of patients, satisfaction of family physicians and psychologists, satisfaction of patients, accessibility to professional care, variation in referrals, quality of collaboration, satisfaction with knowledge transfer, actual and perceived barriers to integration and reduced costs in medication.
Conclusions
We hope to shed light on the rationale and impacts of integrating a psychologist within primary health care team.
Funding body and amount
The project is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long term Care through its Primary Health Care Transition Fund. The Project budget is $637,371.
Collaborators
SCO Health Service, University of Ottawa and Montfort Hospital
Principal investigators
Dr. Marie-Hélène Chomienne
Dr. Jean Grenier
Co-investigators
Dr. William Hogg
Dr. Pierre Ritchie
Specialized collaborators
Isabelle Gaboury
Ian Graham
Doug Coyle
Staff
Johanne Guay, Psychologist on Site
Irwin Pencer, Psychologist on Site
Elina F. Haynes, Project Coordinator
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Research Institute
