5 LEVELS OF PRIMARY-CARE - BEHAVIORAL HEALTH-CARE COLLABORATION

AS PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE toward the development of feasible and effec tive models of collaboration and integrative care, a need has develope d for a model to delineate the degree of collaboration achievable in d ifferent kinds of settings. The Levels of Systemic Collaboration model describes the degree of involvement and sophistication in collaborati ve healthcare between mental health and other health professionals, pa rticularly medical physicians and nurses. The model shows the extent t o which collaboration already occurs and indicates the capacity for in creased collaboration in the healthcare setting as a whole, more than as a particular interaction between a physician and a therapist. The p ossibility for collaboration in certain cases will depend on the natur e of the case, the collaborative skills of specific providers, and the collaborative capacity (level) of the healthcare setting and team. Th e model refers to the systemic and organizational issues that facilita te or impede collaboration.