Patient-facing, Semi-automated, solutions to enhance patient participation in measurement-based care practice standards in a tele-mental health specialty clinic for populations at higher risk for self-harm

Abstract

PurposeCollecting validated surveys that describe symptom severity (measurement based care) during evidence-based psychotherapy is crucial to allow a therapist to tailor the speed and intensity of treatment. COVID clinic closures mandated we create a flexible, remote system to conduct measurement-based care, which was accomplished via RedCap. MethodsRedCap was used to create a semi-automated workflow allowing all clinically-indicated evidence-based surveys (including the PHQ-9) to be delivered via email to patients; with results automatically sent to their provider. Importantly, indications of suicidal ideation were automatically escalated to the provider. ResultsPHQ-9 completion improved, while provider burden for collecting surveys was greatly reduced; however, depending largely upon initial provider-patient ‘training’, overall compliance could still be significantly improved. ConclusionThis workflow gave providers additional information compared to the typical telemedicine environment, and in fact, improved data collection rates over our in-person environment. However, when patients did not complete measures on their own, the burden on providers increased.