Experiences of Team Collaboration in Primary Care-Based Delivery of Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

Authors

• Elizabeth J. Austin, Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, 3980 15 th Ave NE, 4 th Floor, Box 351621, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA. austie@uw.edu.
• Madeleine J. Bentley, Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, 3980 15 th Ave NE, 4 th Floor, Box 351621, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
• Lori Ferro, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
• Andrew J. Saxon, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
• John C. Fortney, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
• Geoffrey M. Curran, Departments of Pharmacy Practice and Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
• Brittany E. Blanchard, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
• Yavar Moghimi, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA.
• Emily C. Williams, Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, 3980 15 th Ave NE, 4 th Floor, Box 351621, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
• Anna D. Ratzliff, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
• Monica S. Ruiz, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, the George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA.
• Ulrich Koch, Department of Clinical Research and Leadership, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

4-16-2025

Journal

The journal of behavioral health services & research

DOI

10.1007/s11414-025-09946-2

Keywords

behavioral health; collaborative care; opioid use disorder; primary care; relational coordination

Abstract

Team-based models of care delivery are increasingly utilized to address co-occurring mental health and/or substance use conditions. However, little is known about how team-based models function among primary care teams delivering treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). The research team conducted qualitative interviews with a sample of multidisciplinary, primary care team members delivering OUD treatment using the collaborative care model (CoCM). Providers were recruited from 13 diverse United States (U.S.) clinics participating in a multisite hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial. Interviews were audio recorded and professionally transcribed. All transcripts were double-coded using a coding schema informed by relational coordination theory. Thirty-five team members completed an interview, including 14 primary care providers (PCPs), 13 behavioral health care managers (BHCM), and eight consulting psychiatric providers (CPP). Four themes emerged: (1) team-based work increases shared knowledge about patients; (2) team members leverage one another's relationships with patients to increase treatment engagement; (3) team collaboration is enhanced when BHCMs have opportunities and space to connect informally with PCPs; and (4) increased mutual respect between team members is needed to maximize patient engagement efforts. Team-based models may enhance patient engagement in OUD care by increasing the volume of patient contacts and augmenting therapeutic alliances.

APA Citation

Austin, Elizabeth J.; Bentley, Madeleine J.; Ferro, Lori; Saxon, Andrew J.; Fortney, John C.; Curran, Geoffrey M.; Blanchard, Brittany E.; Moghimi, Yavar; Williams, Emily C.; Ratzliff, Anna D.; Ruiz, Monica S.; and Koch, Ulrich, "Experiences of Team Collaboration in Primary Care-Based Delivery of Opioid Use Disorder Treatment" (2025). GW Authored Works. Paper 7041.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/7041

Department

Clinical Research and Leadership