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Social workers frequent interprofessional healthcare teams, but few studies examine the day-to-day experiences of these providers on interprofessional teams. Our study utilized semi-structured interviews with 54 medical social workers practicing on interprofessional healthcare teams. A thematic analysis was used to analyze the day-to-day functions of these social workers. The analysis resulted in three primary themes: 1) Social Workers’ Self-Perceptions of their Roles within Interprofessional Teams, 2) Social Workers Shifting Roles on Interprofessional Teams, and 3) Interprofessional Team Dynamics that Impact the Role of a Social Worker. Social workers perceived their primary roles as contributing a unique systems approach to interprofessional healthcare teams while emphasizing patient self-determination. These self-perceptions influenced their shifting roles on interprofessional healthcare teams (e.g. clinician, case manager, bridge builder). In addition to individual self-perceptions, the healthcare system infrastructure influenced social work roles. For example, social workers in outpatient settings more frequently assumed the role of a mental health practitioner compared to those in inpatient settings. Last, there was variation in interprofessional communication and workflow assignment based on the healthcare infrastructure. Future research should examine the education and training efforts of social workers and other allied health professions for interprofessional healthcare teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Patient satisfaction is associated with positive diabetes outcomes. However, there are no identified studies that evaluate both patient‐ and clinic‐level predictors influencing diabetes care satisfaction longitudinally. Methods: Data from the INtegrating DEPrEssioN and Diabetes treatmENT trial was used to perform the analysis. We used fixed and random effects models to assess whether and how changes in patient‐level predictors (treatment assignment, depression symptom severity, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, LDL cholesterol, and haemoglobin A1C) from 0 to 24 months and clinic‐level predictors (visit frequency, visit cost, number of specialists, wait time, time spent with healthcare provider, and receiving verbal reminders) measured at 24 months influence diabetes care satisfaction from 0 to 24 months. Results: Model 1 (patient‐level predictors) accounted for 7% of the change in diabetes satisfaction and there was a significant negative relationship between change in depressive symptoms and care satisfaction (β = −0.23, SE = 0.12, p < 0.05). Within Model 1, 2% of the variance was explained by clinic‐level predictors. Model 2 included both patient‐ and clinic‐level predictors and accounted for 18% of the change in diabetes care satisfaction. Within Model 2, 9% of the variance was attributed to clinic‐level predictors. There was also a cross‐level interaction where the change in depression had less of an impact on the change in satisfaction for those who received a verbal reminder (β = −0.11, SE = 0.21, p = 0.34) compared with those who did not receive a reminder (β = −0.62, SE = 0.08, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Increased burden of depressive symptoms influences diabetes care satisfaction. Clinic‐level predictors also significantly influence diabetes care satisfaction and can reduce dissatisfaction in primary care, specifically, reminder calls from clinic staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spirituality is integral to the provision of high-quality health and mental healthcare. Despite this, there is limited research on how to assess and address spiritual determinants of health within primary care settings. Many individuals initiate care within primary care settings, and several will only receive care from their primary care provider. The high prevalence of individuals receiving care within primary care settings coupled with the positive impact spirituality has on health and mental health reveal the need to care for spiritual needs within primary care settings. Integrated care is a model of treatment that addresses the fragmentation of healthcare by assessing and addressing the psychosocial determinants of health within primary care settings. The structure of integrated care models is designed to treat the biological and psychosocial determinants of health and, as a result, provide suitable context for assessing and addressing spirituality in primary care settings. The purpose of this paper is to (1) summarize the efforts to integrate spirituality within primary care (whole person care models), (2) summarize the integrated care efforts to promote psychosocial integration, (3) highlight Christian mindfulness as a potential form of intervention to address spirituality within integrated care models, and (4) operationalize the delivery of Christian mindfulness within a fully integrated care model. The conclusions from the conceptual review include both practice innovation for the assessment and intervention of spirituality in integrated care as well as potential direction for future research to study Christian mindfulness within integrated care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patients and clinic staff have experienced profound challenges from the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. Patients of color have experienced increased internalized racism, which has led to symptoms of psychological distress, whereas other patients have expressed racist beliefs. Staff members of color have experienced the same psychological distress that patients have, and clinics are comprised of individuals who hold racist beliefs. These conditions have created difficult realities for behavioral health consultants (BHCs). Objectives: The narrative will provide an overview of a day in the life of a BHC navigating these changes and how a question posed from a patient moved that BHC to ask the question, "What can I do?" Conclusion: Future research should evaluate the ways in which racism impact staff and patients alike while assessing how healthcare staff can work to make systematic change in their clinics and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]