Making Warm Handoffs the Norm in Primary Care Behavioral Health

July 8, 2025

The Defense Health Agency’s Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) program is empowering psychologists and social workers with specialized continuing education designed for their crucial role as Behavioral Health Consultants (BHCs) in Military Treatment Facility (MTF) primary care clinics. This interactive training enhances BHCs' ability to deliver seamless, team-based care by equipping them with practical strategies for efficient warm handoffs from Primary Care Managers (PCMs). Participants will also sharpen their skills in conducting and documenting brief, same-day follow-up appointments—an essential component of integrated behavioral health. The 90-minute live webinar features compelling case examples and offers ample opportunities for interactive discussion and Q&A, ensuring BHCs walk away confident and ready to elevate care delivery within their teams.

Target Audience

This activity provides continuing education for social workers and psychologists. A certificate of attendance is available for other attendees.

Learning Objectives

  1. Discuss the benefits of warm handoffs (WHOs).
  2. Outline efficient in-person and virtual WHO workflows.
  3. Differentiate between three outcomes of a WHO.
  4. Implement abbreviated visits.
  5. List required documentation elements for abbreviated visits.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.50 APA

     Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. Participants may earn 1.50 CE credits for completing this activity.

  • 1.50 ASWB

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, DHA, J7, CEPO is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 General continuing education credits.

  • 1.50 Attendance
  • 1.50 IPCE

    In support of improving patient care, DHA, J-7, CEPO is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the health care team. This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.50 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

Course opens: 
07/01/2025
Course expires: 
07/22/2025
Event starts: 
07/08/2025 - 1:00pm EDT
Event ends: 
07/08/2025 - 2:30pm EDT
Add to calendar: 

CDR Sara Elizabeth Pulliam, PsyD, ABPP. 

CAPT Aditya Avinash Bhagwat, Ph.D., ABPP-CN. 

Svetlana Kahle, PsyD. 

Disclosure: DHA J-7 staff, planners, authors, faculty, and content reviewers for this educational activity have no relevant financial or non-financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Available Credit

  • 1.50 APA

     Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. Participants may earn 1.50 CE credits for completing this activity.

  • 1.50 ASWB

    As a Jointly Accredited Organization, DHA, J7, CEPO is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 General continuing education credits.

  • 1.50 Attendance
  • 1.50 IPCE

    In support of improving patient care, DHA, J-7, CEPO is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the health care team. This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.50 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

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Requirements: CE/CME certificates are awarded to participants who fully complete the activity, successfully submit the evaluation survey, and pass the posttest. The deadline to claim credit is Jul 22, 2025.

Access Code: Some activities require an access code to register or claim credit. Please contact the organization providing the activity for the access code. The Continuing Education Program Office (CEPO) does not provide access codes.

Accommodations: Please contact the course instructor to inquire about accommodations. For additional technical support, email [email protected].

Required Hardware/software