Co-located Mental Health Care Services in Primary Medical Groups in Puerto Rico: Facilitators, Barriers, and Recommendations for the Future
Keywords:
co-located care, facilitators, barriers, recommendations, mental health services, Puerto RicoAbstract
Introduction: There is high need for mental health services in Puerto Rico. Integrating behavioral health providers into primary care can increase access. We aimed to identify facilitators, barriers, and recommendations for how to improve the co-located care model being implemented in primary medical groups across Puerto Rico. Method: We conducted two focus groups (one with representatives from a managed behavioral healthcare organization [n = 7] and one with co-located mental health care providers [n = 6]) to gather information on their experiences. Thematic coding was used to analyze focus group data. Results: Participants noted various facilitators and barriers to utilization of co-located services in Puerto Rico and gave recommendations for how to improve the model. Discussion: Integration of electronic medical records, expanded insurance coverage for mental health services, additional training for medical providers, and implementing standardized mental health screenings might be important steps toward improving co-located care in Puerto Rico.
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