Examining the Warm Handoff in Rural Integrated Care

• Main Author: Tedder, Jamie
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University 2020
• Subjects: primary care; warm hand off; rural healthcare; integrated care; Clinical Psychology; Psychology
• Online Access: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3802; https://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5299&context=etd

An ever-growing body of evidence supports the efficacy of integrated care as a treatment approach; however, less is known about what specific components of integrated care are most effective. This is especially true of warm handoffs, which are an often discussed but understudied process in integrated care. A total of 246 patient charts were reviewed to determine if type of referral (warm handoff or traditional) increased the likelihood of follow-up with behavioral health services as well as factors that might impact this relationship. There were no significant differences between type of referral and likelihood of follow-up with behavioral health services. Only previous number of visits with referring provider significantly increased the likelihood of patients attending a subsequent behavioral health appointment. More research is needed to better understand the efficacy, if any, of the warm handoff as a component of integrated care.