The journal of behavioral health services & research
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J Behav Health Serv Res · Oct 2019
Telepsychiatry: an Innovative Approach to Addressing the Opioid Crisis.
The opioid epidemic faced by the USA is a complex public health crisis, with staggering loss of life and overwhelming social, health, and economic costs. Despite the rising need for medication-assisted treatment, individuals struggling with opioid use continue to face multiple barriers hindering their access to care, particularly in rural areas. ⋯ As the implementation of telepsychiatry continues to expand, this method of healthcare delivery offers significant opportunities to overcome several barriers to access patients with opioid use disorder face. While addressing the opioid crisis will require multifaceted efforts involving multiple stakeholders and different approaches, a comprehensive strategy must incorporate the adoption of telepsychiatry as an innovative approach to overcoming barriers to treatment and enhancing access to care.
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J Behav Health Serv Res · Apr 2019
Comparative StudyScratching the Surface of Psychiatric Services Distribution and Public Health: an Indiana Assessment.
Mental illness is a leading cause of disability with many public health implications. Previous studies have demonstrated a national shortage of psychiatrists, particularly in rural areas. An analysis of how this workforce distribution relates to population demographics and public/behavioral health is lacking in the literature. ⋯ The low psychiatry workforce capacity in rural counties is so disparate that the demographic and public/behavioral health characteristics differ from the State averages in the same manner as counties without a psychiatrist at all. The psychiatric workforce distribution did not differ significantly on the basis of poverty prevalence. The potential utility of indicators of population health was also evaluated and revealed that social factors such as poverty and Medicaid prevalence may be superior to more traditional measures.
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J Behav Health Serv Res · Apr 2019
Overcoming Barriers to Adopting and Implementing Pharmacotherapy: the Medication Research Partnership.
Pharmacotherapy includes a growing number of clinically effective medications for substance use disorder, yet there are significant barriers to its adoption and implementation in routine clinical practice. The Medication Research Partnership (MRP) was a successful effort to promote adoption of pharmacotherapy for opioid and alcohol use disorders in nine substance abuse treatment centers and a commercial health plan. ⋯ Results show that barriers to adopting, implementing, and sustaining pharmacotherapy can be overcome through incremental testing of organizational change strategies, accompanied by expert coaching and a learning community of like-minded professionals. The greatest challenges lie in overcoming abstinence-only philosophies, establishing a business case for pharmacotherapy, and working with payers and pharmaceutical representatives.
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J Behav Health Serv Res · Oct 2018
Creating Culturally Competent and Responsive Mental Health Services: A Case Study Among the Amish Population of Geauga County, Ohio.
Providing effective mental health services requires knowledge about and cultural competence across a wide array of beliefs and practices. This study provides an example of a successful project to improve public mental health service delivery in an Amish community. ⋯ Following meetings with community leaders, changes were made to improve the relationships of service providers and public funding agencies with the local Amish community, disseminate information about mental health concerns and services, and improve accessibility to mental health services. In 2013, a follow-up analysis of records found a 320% increase in public mental health service utilization by the Amish community within the first five years after these changes were made.
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J Behav Health Serv Res · Jul 2017
Patient Opinions About Screening for Suicide Risk in the Adult Medical Inpatient Unit.
As hospital clinicians and administrators consider implementing suicide risk screening on medical inpatient units, patient reactions to screening can provide essential input. This post hoc analysis examined patient opinions about screening for suicide risk in the medical setting. This analysis includes a subsample of a larger quality improvement project designed to screen medically hospitalized patients for suicide risk. ⋯ Adult medical inpatients supported screening for suicide risk on medical/surgical inpatient units. Behavioral health clinicians are uniquely poised to champion suicide detection and intervention in the general medical hospital setting. Patient opinions can be utilized to inform thoughtful implementation of universal suicide risk screening in the medical setting.