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

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.

Department

Clinical Research and Leadership

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