Clinical Health Psychology

This database is no longer actively maintained and is here for archival purposes only

Organization Type: 
Educational Institution
Program Type: 
Standing Program
Education Level: 
Graduate
Educational Elements: 
Lecture/Didactic
Self Reflection Activities
Experiential not including services to patients
Experiential including clinical contact with patients
Program Description: 

East Carolina University offers a clinical health concentration through its health psychology doctoral program, which emphasizes training for clinical health settings.  The curriculum is based on a biopsychosocial understanding of health and illness and trains psychologists to deliver clinical services in settings such as primary health care hospital teams, rehabilitation, psychiatry, oncology, cardiology, geriatrics, pain clinics, sleep medicine, pediatrics, health maintenance organizations, community mental health agencies, and in the private practice of health psychology. 

Health and illness are viewed as the product of a combination of factors, including biological characteristics (e.g., genetic predispositions), psychological and behavioral factors (e.g., lifestyle, stress, health beliefs), and psychosocial conditions (e.g., cultural influences, family relationships, social support, school experiences). The philosophy of training is rooted in the scientist-practitioner model in which psychologists are trained as both scientists (i.e., competent to engage in scientific research) and practitioners (i.e., competent to provide clinical services). Program participants complete a practicum experience in an integrated care model at the Brody Family Medicine program.  This experience, in particular, prepares students for careers in patient-centered medical homes and other integrated care practices.

Graduates of this program  gain competencies in the assessment of biopsychosocial factors affecting an individual's overall health and well-being including psychological, cognitive, behavioral, social, environmental, and biological/physical factors; become skilled in developing and delivering psychological interventions to promote prevention and wellness and treat psychological conditions that affect health and illness; become skilled in a broad range of psychological interventions and techniques, ranging from psychotherapy to targeted interventions such as stress-management, relaxation training, biofeedback, health promotion, and problem solving therapy; become skilled in collaboration, consultation, and teamwork, which are essential to working within a multidisciplinary team of health professionals such as medical doctors (e.g. family medicine, psychiatry, neurology, cardiology), nurses, physician assistants, occupational therapists, physical therapists, exercise physiologists, nutritionists, social workers, counselors, speech-language pathologists, and public health professionals; and become experts in contemporary research so as to rigorously conduct and apply scientific methods to understanding health and illness as well as select and evaluate clinical treatment strategies based on established scientific knowledge and empirical support.

Evaluated: 
Yes
Program Results: 

This program is evaluated through the Council on Accreditation and there is ongoing collection of data related to program training goals (e.g., competency exams, practicum ratings, internship match, and licensure statistics).

Targeted Professions
Psychology: 
Clinical
Self-Reported Competencies
PCPCC’s Education and Training Task Force identified 16 interprofessional training competencies critical for preparing health professionals for practicing in team-based, coordinated care models such as patient-centered medical homes. Listed below are the self-reported competencies that this program has achieved, which have been organized by the five core features of a medical home as defined by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Patient-Centered Care Competencies: 
Advocacy for patient-centered integrated care
Cultural sensitivity and competence in culturally appropriate practice
Development of effective, caring relationships with patients
Patient-centered care planning, including collaborative decision-making and patient self-management
Comprehensive Care Competencies: 
Assessment of biopsychosocial needs across the lifespan
Population-based approaches to health care delivery
Risk identification
Coordinated Care Competencies: 
Care coordination for comprehensive care of patient & family in the community
Health information technology, including e-communications with patients & other providers
Interprofessionalism & interdisciplinary team collaboration
Team leadership
Quality Care & Safety Competencies: 
Assessment of patient outcomes
Evidence-based practice
Last updated November 15, 2013

* Please note: Information contained in this database is self-reported by representatives from each program. It does not represent an exhaustive list of education and training programs and inclusion does not constitute an endorsement from the PCPCC.

 

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