The critical role of health information technology in the safe integration of behavioral health and primary care to improve patient care.
Effective integration of health information systems can improve decision making and care coordination across practice settings. This article discusses action-oriented safe practice recommendations from health information technology and electronic health record experts regarding integration of behavioral health and primary care. Recommendations focus on screening (e.g., integrated screening tools and triggers in electronic health records (EHRs)), documentation (e.g., streamlining behavioral health data entry), and sharing (e.g., using portals, secure messaging, or health information exchange to share information across care environments). The article also outlines the role of health IT developers, clinicians, and healthcare organizations in supporting behavioral health integration in primary care.