Literature Collection

Integrating behavioral health into primary care can increase patient access to treatments for behavioral health disorders, especially in rural areas. The first step of integrated care implementations is the need to identify at-risk patients and effectively communicate patient screening results to the care team. The use of technology can facilitate patient screening and incorporate screening data into electronic health records. This paper describes the development of a tablet-based screening system to facilitate behavioral health integration in a rural primary care clinic, discusses the preliminary impact of digital screening on workflows, and provides recommendations for the use of technology for screening. A tablet-based assessment was developed to screen patients for behavioral health concerns and was implemented within a rural primary care clinic. The system was created using the Visual Signature Capture system, which integrates directly with the electronic health record. Following the initial assessment, patients are screened as frequently as every 30 days with a mini-screen assessment, consisting of multiple screening tools for mental health and substance use. The tablet-based screening system had a positive impact on clinician workflows and the overall effectiveness of clinic operations. This system supports providers in addressing the behavioral health needs of patients that often go unrecognized in primary care.

BACKGROUND: The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon began a Mobile Medication Unit (MMU) as part of their Great Circle Recovery Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) to address elevated rates of opioid use disorder (OUD) among American Indians and Alaska Natives in Oregon. The MMU provides methadone or buprenorphine for individuals with OUD, enrolled in the OTP, who are living either on the reservation or in surrounding rural communities. An implementation study describes the service through document review and qualitatively assesses patient and staff experiences and the perceived barriers and facilitators to mobile services. METHODS: Semi-structured qualitative interviews with patients (n = 11), MMU staff (n = 5), and the state opioid treatment authority (n = 1) gathered details on the initiative's development and operations. Provider interviews probed implementation experiences. Patient interviews focused on their experiences with the MMU and staff, changes in quality of life and recommendations for enhancing treatment. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using a Thematic Analysis approach. RESULTS: Staff themes identified two driving forces (i.e. staff desire for an inclusive approach to wellness that is accessible to all community members; the catalysts for the MMU), two steps toward MMU development (i.e. Tribal approvals and support; the construction and maintenance of community relationships) and two perspectives on MMU implementation and impact (i.e. initial implementation barriers; facilitators and observations of how the MMU reduced stigma associated with agonist therapy). Patients' themes noted the MMU's professional and 'caring' environment, accessible rural locations and general suggestions including culturally responsive ancillary services. CONCLUSION: The Great Circle MMU enhanced access to opioid agonist therapy for people with OUD (i.e. American Indians/Alaska Natives, and non-natives) living in rural communities. The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde operates the first Tribally owned OTP MMU, grounded in cultural humility and committed to Tribal members and the great circle of the larger community.

Many individuals with opioid use disorder come into contact with the justice system each year, making the nexus between the criminal justice system and the health care system a critical juncture for responding to the opioid crisis and simultaneously promoting public health and public safety. Collaborations across these sectors are essential to providing effective screening, treatment, and discharge planning; connecting individuals to services following release; promoting long-term recovery while reducing recidivism; and ultimately bringing the opioid crisis under control. In 2019, with the support of the NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative, the National Institute on Drug Abuse launched the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN). JCOIN is a >$150M multisite cooperative designed to facilitate transdisciplinary collaborations that can create actionable, translatable insights for the justice system and community-based organizations to address the opioid epidemic in justice-involved populations. JCOIN brings together 11 Research Hubs, a coordination and translation center (CTC), and a methodology and advanced analytics resource center (MAARC), with the goal of generating evidence that is greater than the sum of the parts. Collectively, the network will field at least 12 large-scale multisite clinical trials, which are described in this special issue. This article provides a brief overview of the scientific underpinnings for these trials; describes the broad themes connecting them; and discusses the intersections of the JCOIN initiative with the COVID-19 pandemic.

(i) To describe an integrated model of psychiatric care for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). (ii) To evaluate access to and engagement in psychiatric care among veterans with comorbid PTSD and mTBI after implementation of an Integrated Care (IC) model compared to the previous Usual Care (UC). 100 randomly selected charts, 50 from each of UC and IC were reviewed in this non-concurrent case- control study. Polytrauma Network Site (PNS), an outpatient rehabilitation clinic, for veterans who suffered from brain and other traumatic injuries at an urban VA Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center. Veterans receiving treatment for mTBI symptoms by the rehabilitation team were referred for medication management for PTSD to UC and IC. Co-located access to psychiatric care for medication management as part of the interdisciplinary team with the goal of expediting rehabilitation and functional recovery. Number of consults for psychiatric care for medication management scheduled and completed within 30 days, and number of veterans offered, initiating, and completing evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD in UC compared to IC. After implementation of IC there were significant improvements in timely completion of consults and patient engagement with a psychiatrist. There also were improvements in number of referrals, initiation, and completion of evidence-based psychotherapies for the treatment of PTSD. IC within the PNS shows promise as an effective care model for increasing access and engagement in care for veterans with comorbid PTSD/mTBI. Future research is needed to examine the utility of this model in other sites.