TY - JOUR
AU - E. J. Ward
AU - M. Hawrilenko
AU - G. Ambwani
AU - M. Brown
AU - J. H. Krystal
AU - P. R. Corlett
AU - A. M. Chekroud
A1 - 
AB - OBJECTIVE: To examine how clinical care navigation-assistance in accessing healthcare and social services-relates to mental healthcare utilization and clinical outcomes, and whether effects are consistent for people of color. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included participants using a digital mental health benefit (Spring Health), sponsored by 2,045 US employers from 2018-2023. Participants had access to therapists and Care Navigators, clinicians who help select treatment options and schedule appointments. Primary measures were care utilization (conversion to care, multiple-session attendance) and clinical effectiveness (treatment duration, PHQ-9 depression scale, GAD-7 anxiety scale). RESULTS: 36,964 participants had at least 1 mental health assessment and complete demographic information. 13,122 participants who used care navigation were matched to 23,842 participants who did not with 1:2 propensity score matching using demographic and clinical characteristics. Care navigation was associated with increased therapy utilization (OR, 7.10; 95% CI, 3.36-15.00, P < 0.001), multiple-session attendance (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.46-1.69, P < 0.001), number of treatment sessions (IRR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.33-1.39, P < 0.001), additional clinical improvement (depression: 0.93 points, 95% CI, 0.11-1.75; anxiety: 0.87 points, 95% CI, 0.12-1.62) compared to therapy alone for participants with severe baseline symptoms. White participants and participants of color had similar outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Participants using care navigation had improved mental healthcare utilization, retention, and reduced depression and anxiety, which was consistent for people of color. Clinical implementation of care navigation may be associated with greater engagement in care, a key requisite for improving treatment outcomes.
AD - Spring Health, New York, New York, United States of America.; Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
AN - 40966254
BT - PLoS One
C5 - Healthcare Disparities; HIT & Telehealth
CP - 9
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0331454
DP - NLM
ET - 20250918
IS - 9
JF - PLoS One
LA - eng
N2 - OBJECTIVE: To examine how clinical care navigation-assistance in accessing healthcare and social services-relates to mental healthcare utilization and clinical outcomes, and whether effects are consistent for people of color. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included participants using a digital mental health benefit (Spring Health), sponsored by 2,045 US employers from 2018-2023. Participants had access to therapists and Care Navigators, clinicians who help select treatment options and schedule appointments. Primary measures were care utilization (conversion to care, multiple-session attendance) and clinical effectiveness (treatment duration, PHQ-9 depression scale, GAD-7 anxiety scale). RESULTS: 36,964 participants had at least 1 mental health assessment and complete demographic information. 13,122 participants who used care navigation were matched to 23,842 participants who did not with 1:2 propensity score matching using demographic and clinical characteristics. Care navigation was associated with increased therapy utilization (OR, 7.10; 95% CI, 3.36-15.00, P < 0.001), multiple-session attendance (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.46-1.69, P < 0.001), number of treatment sessions (IRR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.33-1.39, P < 0.001), additional clinical improvement (depression: 0.93 points, 95% CI, 0.11-1.75; anxiety: 0.87 points, 95% CI, 0.12-1.62) compared to therapy alone for participants with severe baseline symptoms. White participants and participants of color had similar outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Participants using care navigation had improved mental healthcare utilization, retention, and reduced depression and anxiety, which was consistent for people of color. Clinical implementation of care navigation may be associated with greater engagement in care, a key requisite for improving treatment outcomes.
PY - 2025
SN - 1932-6203
SP - e0331454
ST - A remote care navigation solution associated with improved utilization and outcomes of mental healthcare: A nationwide cohort study in the USA
T1 - A remote care navigation solution associated with improved utilization and outcomes of mental healthcare: A nationwide cohort study in the USA
T2 - PLoS One
TI - A remote care navigation solution associated with improved utilization and outcomes of mental healthcare: A nationwide cohort study in the USA
U1 - Healthcare Disparities; HIT & Telehealth
U3 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0331454
VL - 20
VO - 1932-6203
Y1 - 2025
ER -