Missed opportunities for mental and behavioral health care

Abstract

In an urban comprehensive healthcare system (Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, Massachusetts), investigators performed a longitudinal study of children and adolescents who received behavioral and mental health screening in order to assess adherence to returning for subsequent preventive care visits. For those non-adherent patients, the authors sought to determine why they were “lost” from their medical home or whether they were actually seen in another medical home setting (ie, acute care visit) or system venue (ie, emergency department). In fact, 85% of 461 non-adherent children and adolescents subsequently returned for acute care or delayed preventive care or emergency care in the same medical system. Since mental health/behavioral health risk characteristics were one predictor of non-adherence with scheduled preventive health visits, it behooves pediatricians not to miss opportunities during unscheduled visits to re-connect with patients and continue preventive mental health care. This approach has worked toward keeping a vulnerable population for delayed immunizations up-to-date. Article page 666▶ Mental and Behavioral Health Screening at Preventive Visits: Opportunities for Follow-Up of Patients Who are Nonadherent with the Next Preventive VisitThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 158Issue 4PreviewTo determine the type of subsequent care received by children nonadherent with their next preventive visit and whether behavioral factors predict use of emergency or acute care in this population. Full-Text PDF