We need to talk: why collaboration with schools is essential for effective patient care

Adrian's (not his real name) mother asked his primary care provider for help because she was concerned that Adrian was not learning appropriately. At age 11, he was reading and writing at the level of a much younger child and had difficulty with conversations. Adrian's mother did not know what to do, and as a Spanish‐speaker, she found her interactions with the school confusing. Many families like Adrian's seek support from professionals in various settings when they are concerned about their child's functioning at school. Medication options, behavioral health services, special education evaluations, and 504 accommodations are just a few examples of support that families may be looking for if they are aware of these tools. Proper assessment and intervention often require meaningful collaboration between all parties involved. However, many professionals continue to work in silos or run into logistical or interpersonal roadblocks when attempting to collaborate. We spoke with two Brown Health providers, one resident primary care physician and one doctoral‐level psychology fellow, to get their perspectives and guide our recommendations for effective school collaboration.