Developing an Adaptable Intake Form for the Lifespan to Optimize Efficiency of The Initial Behavioral Health Session in Primary Care
Files
Publication Date
4-29-2026
Keywords
oregon, psvmc, psvmc gme, psvmc oaa
Disciplines
Medical Education
Abstract
Behavioral health intake forms play a key role in collecting background information necessary for comprehensive assessment and successful treatment planning. However, at Providence Gateway Family Medicine, a standardized behavioral health intake form is not currently in use because available forms are not developmentally appropriate for child populations and do not adequately capture developmental information for children and adolescents. As a result, clinicians rely on in‑session questioning to obtain essential background details, which may limit efficiency and reduce the time available to address presenting concerns. This quality improvement project seeks to address this gap via adapting a behavioral health intake form to be effective across the lifespan, with particular attention to the needs of children and adolescents. The revised intake form includes an additional section that further explores child development, school status, and family dynamics. The goal is to create a standardized intake tool that supports both behavioral health providers in delivering developmentally informed patient care. To evaluate the adapted intake form, two behavioral health clinicians at the Providence Gateway Family Medicine clinic will pilot it during new intake sessions with patients aged 17 years or younger. The clinicians will evaluate the form's productivity and clinical effectiveness. That evaluation will consider the intake form’s usefulness in gathering pertinent background information, its impact on session efficiency, and its ability to support meaningful clinical discussions. The clinicians' feedback will guide evaluation of the form’s effectiveness and inform possible improvements prior to wider implementation. This project aims to improve the intake workflow, enhance cross-disciplinary collaboration, and support high‑quality behavioral health care for children and families at the Gateway clinic.
Specialty/Research Institute
Graduate Medical Education
Specialty/Research Institute
Internal Medicine
