AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Regional Teams Enhance Ability of Primary Care Clinicians Throughout Massachusetts to Serve Children and Adolescents With Mental Health Issues

Innovation Profile:

Regional Teams Enhance Ability of Primary Care Clinicians Throughout Massachusetts to Serve Children and Adolescents With Mental Health Issues



Summary
With funding from the state government, the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project uses regional teams of mental health professionals to support pediatric primary care clinicians throughout the state in diagnosing and treating patients with mental health issues. The teams provide telephone consultations during visits and, as needed, follow-up, face-to-face consultations with patients. Based on these interactions, they provide recommendations to the physician on how to manage the patient's mental health issues going forward. If needed, the team assists in securing and coordinating additional specialized mental health services. The program has been broadly accepted by primary care clinicians and enhanced their ability to treat children and adolescents with mental health issues. Future studies will evaluate its cost-effectiveness.

Evidence Rating
Moderate: The evidence consists of pre- and post-implementation comparisons of participating clinicians' perceptions of their ability to meet the mental health needs of patients and to access consults in a timely manner. The evidence also includes data on the proportion of primary care practices using the program, clinician perceptions of program usefulness and willingness to continue monitoring patients’ mental health problems, and anecdotal feedback from members of the regional teams.


Developing Organizations
Massachusetts Department of Mental Health


Date First Implemented
2005
July

Patient Population
The program serves individuals up to age 21 with mental health issues being seen in the pediatric primary care setting, regardless of insurance status. In some cases, the program may serve older patients if a participating pediatric provider continues to care for that individual after he or she becomes an adult.Age > Adolescent (13-18 years); Child (6-12 years); Vulnerable Populations > Children; Mentally ill; Age > Preschooler (2-5 years)


full-text:
AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Regional Teams Enhance Ability of Primary Care Clinicians Throughout Massachusetts to Serve Children and Adolescents With Mental Health Issues