Oral Presentation - Research

Bridging Gaps in Mental Healthcare: Implementation of a Community-informed Interprofessional Psychiatric Assessment Tool for Social Care Teams

- CDT
Room: St. Nicholas B
Angela Patterson, OTD, OTR/L, FNAP
Creighton University
Sara Banzhaf, DNP, APRN-NP, PMHNP-BC
Creighton University
Paul Price, PharmD, RPh, BCPP
Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions
Katherine Meyer Vanicek, DDS, MPH
Creighton University School of Dentistry
Trina Walker, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Creighton University
Judith Bergjord, MLS
Creighton University
Becky Davis, DNP, APHN-BC
Creighton University
Hannah Brockman, BS, OTS
Creighton University Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program
Track:
  • Expanding Interprofessional Health and Social Care Teams and Collaborative Practice
The United States faces a critical shortage of accessible psychiatric-mental health care, particularly affecting vulnerable populations. While validated screening tools exist for individual disciplines, no comprehensive interprofessional assessment tool integrates perspectives from social care teams and mental health practitioners. This Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) project aimed to develop and implement an innovative collaborative practice assessment tool at an urban community healthcare center, incorporating input from both interprofessional providers and community members.Methods/methodology: Development of the interprofessional psychiatric-mental health assessment tool followed a systematic approach. Initial review of 70 existing screening tools informed the foundation. Community input was gathered through culturally tailored surveys and focus groups. The interprofessional team integrated validated assessment components with community-identified needs to create a comprehensive screening tool. External consultants and community stakeholders validated the tool before implementation at the urban community healthcare center.Results: From 301 community surveys conducted in five languages, 30 individuals participated in six culturally tailored focus groups. Key themes included the connection between physical and mental health, privacy concerns, confidentiality, trust, dependability in interactions, sincerity, and access barriers. The resulting interprofessional psychiatric-mental health assessment tool integrated community insights with evidence-based practices. Initial implementation demonstrated improved coordination among healthcare providers and enhanced identification of community members' comprehensive health needs.Conclusions, implications, and curiosities: This innovative interprofessional psychiatric-mental health assessment tool represents a significant advancement in collaborative practice for vulnerable populations. Initial implementation demonstrates promising outcomes in coordinating care across social and healthcare teams. The tool's successful development through community engagement offers a replicable model for other healthcare settings. Future research will explore long-term impacts on service accessibility and health outcomes for underserved populations.

Learning Objectives

  • Participants will examine a novel interprofessional psychiatric-mental health assessment tool.
  • Participants will analyze strategies for implementing collaborative interprofessional health screening across care teams in an urban community healthcare clinic.
  • Participants will appraise outcomes from initial psychiatric-mental health assessment tool implementation in practice.

References

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