Part 2

Care of Patients with Complex and Chronic Concerns

By the end of this course, the learner will be able to: 

Module 1 - Screening for Mental Health Symptoms and Unhealthy Substance Use

1. Describe the purpose of screening in primary care 
2. Describe the use of specific mental health and substance use screening measures in primary care
3. Describe the role behavioral health providers play in promoting best practices in behavioral health screening

Module 2 - Dosing and Titrating Behavioral Health Interventions

1. Describe why dosing and titrating behavioral health interventions is relevant to primary care practice
2. Describe three strategies for effective dosing and titration of behavioral health care
3. Describe how behavioral health providers can collaborate with other primary care team members and their patients to effectively dose and titrate patient care

Module 3 - Responding to Acute and Chronic Suicidality

1. Describe best practices for the care of patients at acute suicide risk
2. Describe best practices for the care of patients at chronic suicide risk
3. Describe how to care for patients at risk of suicide when doing this work on a team of physicians, nurses, staff, and other behavioral health clinicians

Module 4 - When and How to Connect Patients with Community Resources and Specialty Services

1. Describe the community in which your primary care practice operates and the unique needs and resources of that community
2. Describe strategies for matching specific patients with appropriate external resources
3. Describe best practices for making successful referrals and communicating with patients and other team members regarding referrals

Module 5 - Motivational Interviewing

1. Describe the relevance of Motivational Interviewing to behavioral health practice in primary care
2. Describe empathy and its foundational role in promoting engagement and behavior change
3. Describe “change talk” and its role in promoting behavior change

Module 6 - Trauma-Informed Care

1. Define trauma-informed care and describe its relevance to health and healthcare
2. Describe a universal precautions approach to trauma-informed care and strategies for identifying patients with trauma histories
3. Describe how primary care team members can work together to provide trauma-informed care

Module 7- Transdiagnostic Behavioral Health Interventions

1. Compare and contrast a transdiagnostic approach with diagnosis-specific interventions
2. List three specific transdiagnostic approaches that are relevant to primary care practice
3. Describe the application of transdiagnostic approaches to patient care when working on a primary care team

Module 8 - Collaborating on Psychopharmacology

1. Apply essential psychopharmacology terms to describe commonly prescribed psychiatric medications
2. Describe behavioral interventions that support patients prescribed psychiatric medications
3. Describe approaches to collaborating with PCPs and nurses in the care of patients prescribed psychiatric medications

Module 9- Chronic Medical Conditions

1. Describe the application of the Stages of Change framework to the care of patients with chronic medical problems
2. Describe the connection between clarifying patients’ values and helping patients align their health behaviors with those values
3. Collaborate with other members of the primary care team to mutually support patients in their efforts to address chronic medical conditions

Module 10 - Medically Unexplained Symptoms and Somatization Disorder

1. Compare and contrast the core features of Illness Anxiety Disorder, Somatic Symptoms Disorder, & Medically Unexplained Symptoms within the context of primary care
2. Describe brief, evidence-based behavioral interventions that are helpful for patients with Illness Anxiety Disorder, Somatic Symptoms Disorder, & Medically Unexplained Symptoms
3. Explain effective approaches for collaborating with primary care clinicians in the care of patients with Illness Anxiety Disorder, Somatic Symptoms Disorder, and Medically Unexplained Symptoms

Module 11 - Substance Use Disorders

1. Describe the heterogeneity of primary care patients with substance use concerns
2. Describe the characteristics of primary care practices that are well-suited to the care of patients with substance use concerns
3. Describe the helpful attitudes and skills that prepare primary care team members to care for patients with substance use concerns

Module 12 - Chronic Severe Mental Illness

1. Describe the importance of building strong, longitudinal relationships with patients with severe mental illness and strategies for building these relationships
2. List three specific brief interventions that are helpful for patients with severe mental illness
3. Describe how primary care teams can work