The Northwestern Medicine Collaborative Behavioral Health Program (CBHP): The collaborative care model and population psychiatric health in primary care

The Northwestern Medicine Collaborative Behavioral Health Program (CBHP): The collaborative care model and population psychiatric health in primary care is organized by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine - Office of Continuing Medical Education.

Start Date: October 1, 2025
End Date: October 1, 2028

Description:
The Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) is a highly evidence based program designed to assist outpatient clinics with management of psychiatric syndromes. At NM, Collaborative Behavioral Health Program (CBHP) uses this model to address depression and anxiety within primary care. This activity introduces PCPs and colleagues to CoCM, including the structure, rationale, and outcomes, in addition to basic tenets of population health. Discussion includes how CoCM offers significant improvements from care as usual, including lowered healthcare disparities. Basic treatment of depression and anxiety including program algorithms and antidepressant medications are also briefly reviewed with a case based model.

Objectives:

• Describe the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) including its improvements over care as usual
• Be aware of supporting evidence for CoCM including impact on healthcare disparities
• Summarize the roles of the primary care provider (PCP), psychiatric consultant (PC), and behavioral care coordinator (BCC) in CoCM
• Describe population health models as applied to psychiatric syndromes in primary care
• Implement patient referral to the Collaborative Care Behavioral Health Program (CBHP) and explain clinical workflows for ongoing patient care
• Review a case study highlighting key aspects of treatment algorithms for depression and anxiety in CoCM.