Collaborating with other treatment providers

“Collaborate with other treatment providers (e.g., care coordination, interdisciplinary treatment team)” (NBCC, 2027 task 5.3)

Many clients receive care from several providers at once: physicians, psychiatrists, other therapists, case managers and specialists. Coordinated care prevents gaps, contradictions and duplicated effort. The exam tests care coordination, interdisciplinary teamwork and the confidentiality rules that apply.

Key points

Care coordination means sharing relevant information and aligning plans among providers who serve the same client.
Under HIPAA, covered entities may share protected health information for treatment purposes without a written authorization, although many counselors and agencies still seek consent as good practice; state law or 42 CFR Part 2 may require more.
Psychotherapy notes kept separately from the record have extra HIPAA protection and generally require specific authorization to disclose.
When a client sees another mental health professional, the ACA Code asks counselors to request a release to inform that professional and work toward a positive collaborative relationship.
In interdisciplinary teams, understand each profession's role and scope and contribute the counseling perspective clearly.
Communicate in concise, jargon-light terms, focused on what the other provider needs.
Document all coordination contacts.

In practice

A client tells her counselor that her psychiatrist recently increased her antidepressant. With her consent, the counselor sends the psychiatrist a brief summary of changes in sleep and mood, and they agree on how to communicate going forward.

In an integrated primary care clinic, a counselor joins a team meeting about a patient with diabetes and depression, sharing that depression is affecting the patient's ability to follow his diet and proposing a joint plan with the nurse educator.

Check yourself

Does HIPAA require a written authorization for one treating provider to share information with another for treatment?

Generally no, because HIPAA permits disclosures for treatment, though state law, 42 CFR Part 2 or agency policy may require more.

What should a counselor do upon learning a client is seeing another mental health professional?

Request a release to inform that professional and work toward a collaborative relationship.

Why are psychotherapy notes treated differently under HIPAA?

Notes kept separately from the medical record get extra protection and generally need specific authorization to disclose.

NBCC's knowledge and skills for Domain 5

Knowledge of: Documentation practices and models; Release of information and confidentiality; Basic psychopharmacological information; Professional roles; Record retention and management.

Skill in: Completing case notes; Case conceptualization; Advocating for client.

A study guide written by ExamDragon from NBCC's published task; not NBCC material and not part of the exam.