Provider Profile - Landon Poppleton, PhD
There doesn’t seem to be a “typical” day for behavioral health provider, Dr. Landon Poppleton. On any given day, Dr. Poppleton could see a child for bedwetting problems, a middle aged patient with chronic joint pain or a patient with such severe psycho-social problems that he is a threat to the doctors trying to treat him. Where to begin?
(Pictured at left, Dr. Landon Poppleton.)
“I begin by focusing on simple, proven, changes in behavior a patient can use to lessen their symptoms. It can be as simple as going to the bathroom right before bed or pacing yourself in daily activities to control pain. We’re focused on controlling the patient’s symptoms so they can function.”
The medical home model of care practiced by the Virginia Garcia clinics may be the perfect environment for this integrated approach to take seed. Dr. Poppleton is a behavioral health provider with LifeWorks NW in partnership with Virginia Garcia. Poppleton works as part of a team of primary care physicians, nurses and case managers at VG Beaverton who manage patient care.
In this model, mental health concerns are addressed as part of the overall treatment plan, reducing the stigma and barriers in access to mental health. Many of the patients who are “high utlizers” often lack the skills to articulate and control the behaviors that lead to physical and emotional problems. Mental and behavioral health problems contribute to the unseen costs of health care according to Poppleton.
“When a patient has been identified by their primary care provider as someone with behavioral health problems, the goal is to introduce that patient to me as seamlessly as possible” said Poppleton. “We call it the ‘warm hand off.’ Sometimes the patient doesn’t even know I’m a psychologist. I’m just part of the team.”
Poppleton strives to integrate the biomedical and psychosocial approach to treatment so each patient receives the best comprehensive care. In other words, to integrate a patient’s medical, physical and behavioral needs as much as possible. “Dr. Poppleton is a critical part of our team-based care,” said clinic manager, Tran Miers. “It’s so important to have a patient participate in their care and Landon helps facilitate that.”
Dr. Poppleton joined VG Beaverton just one year ago. He came from an outpatient mental health setting and finds the change of pace, style and people at Virginia Garcia refreshing. He was attracted to Virginia Garcia by the chance to work with people from diverse backgrounds, especially those of Hispanic heritage, after spending time volunteering for The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints in South Florida.
Poppleton is the father of two young children, a boy and a girl, and spends most of his free time with his family and doing church volunteer work. In the short time he has been at Virginia Garcia, he has been instrumental in promoting change and growth in behavioral health perspectives.
“We have moved from a traditional model where patients were referred to a mental health provider in another location, to the ‘co-location’ model where mental health services are on site, to the integration model we have at Virginia Garcia where behavioral health is incorporated into team care.”
Poppleton is piloting group workshops on chronic pain management and depression at VG Beaverton which Virginia Garcia hopes to duplicate at other clinics. He is also leading training sessions for Virginia Garcia staff on how to identify and help stabilize patients who could become safety risks to staff and others. All in a days work!