Collaborative Care Has a Pivotal Role in Digital Health, Experts Say

MHIZ panelist Shannon Suo, M.D., chief operating officer and vice president of the web-based app Call Psych, which offers direct educational content on psychiatric diagnoses and treatments as well as “curbside consults,” commented more specifically on the importance of direct interactions with primary care physicians (PCPs). She noted that in her consults, she often gives several options on how to approach a mutual patient, providing room for adjustment as the consulting PCP is “still responsible for executing those plans.”

Call Psych, for example, enhances this collaborative approach by offering a web-based platform that provides PCPs with access to a comprehensive database of psychiatric diagnoses and treatments. This allows PCPs to make more informed decisions and offers a structured menu of safe treatment plans tailored to each patient’s individual needs, ensuring that treatment is specifically aligned with their unique mental health circumstances.

Moreover, apps like Call Psych facilitate seamless communication between psychiatrists and PCPs through curbside consults and educational content, which increases the PCPs’ confidence and capability in managing psychiatric conditions. In addition, Call Psych distinguishes itself from other CoCM models by focusing on measurement-based care, in which treatments are guided by data from patient questionnaires (such as a PHQ-9) and other progress reports, allowing for tracking treatment outcomes.

Amit Parikh, M.D., chief medical officer of the national health care provider Bend Health, added that collaborating and building trust with PCPs is crucial in the goal to expand mental health resources digitally, from offering continuing medical education opportunities on psychiatric conditions to direct access to psychiatrists. Bend Health enhances CoCM by providing a fully virtual platform that connects child and adolescent patients with a comprehensive range of mental health services, including psychiatric consultations, care management, and therapy. This virtual integration allows for immediate access to mental health professionals for consults, which is particularly beneficial in bridging the gap between primary care and specialized psychiatric care.

Bend Health’s model also includes the use of digital tools for continuous patient engagement and monitoring, ensuring that PCPs are supported with timely and expert psychiatric input. This also involves the integration of developmental milestone and behavioral pattern monitoring as well as familial input to allow early intervention for mental health concerns. Additionally, Bend Health’s focus on building trust and collaboration with PCPs helps to ensure that patients receive consistent and coordinated care.

“There’s a huge gap between … the folks like us who can treat these [patients] and the amount of resources available,” Parikh said. “We knew that we had to develop something that was able to actually meet these families where they are [primary care offices]. These families develop deep relationships with their PCPs.

“When we collaborate and integrate directly with their PCPs, it brings a level of trust to that referral. We see a massive increase in the number of people who convert from getting a referral from their PCP to our [psychiatric] care because we integrate directly with them.”

However, new advances also come with new challenges. “Collaborative care is a great access-to-care model, but just like our standard clinical models, there are still challenges with reimbursement, scaling, and making it work,” said George Alvarado, M.D., vice chair of clinical operations at Zucker Hillside Hospital of Northwell Health. “We still need clinics, we still need inpatient care, and we need a continuum that works.” He added that collaborative care is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach and requires PCPs to continuing managing patients.

The integration of digital health and collaborative care models presents both promising opportunities and significant challenges. Beyond traditional psychiatric referrals, which may take months for a patient to get an appointment, these digital health opportunities serve as both a stopgap for care and a training opportunity for PCPs. As the field evolves, continuous adaptation and collaboration among health care providers will be essential to maximize the benefits of these innovations and improve access to mental health care. ■