The examples used in the diagram of the Four Quadrant Integration model are for adult populations; the same template can be used to create models that are specific for children and adolescents, or older adults, reflecting the unique issues of serving those populations (for example, the role of schools and school based services in serving children).
Older adults, particularly, have been shown to utilize primary care settings for psychosocial, non-organic somatic complaints and to be underrepresented in specialty behavioral health populations -- research suggests they are willing to receive behavioral health services in a primary care setting and that targeted interventions can make a difference in depression symptoms. Ethnic, language and racial groups also have unique issues in receiving language and culturally appropriate behavioral health services. Primary care based behavioral health services can improve access for these populations and lead to appropriate engagement with behavioral health specialty services as needed. For example, the Bridge Program in metropolitan New York has been successful in reaching the Asian-American community via their primary care settings.
There are also differences between rural and urban environments and among regional markets in terms of the resources available and ease or difficulty of access to services. The Four Quadrant Integration model provides a template for considering the resources locally available and developing alternative methods of coordination (for example, telemedicine) that may be required when specialty care (either physical or behavioral health) is delivered in another community.
The Four Quadrant Clinical Integration model is not diagnosis specific; it looks at degree of clinical complexity and risk/level of functioning. Further, the evidence-base is at different levels of development in each of the Quadrants. The model is intended to provide a conceptual construct for how to integrate services. Diagnosis specific guidelines should be used to provide detailed guidance for the scope of the primary care provider, the primary care based behavioral health provider, and the specialty behavioral health provider.
In the healthcare system, there are numerous evidence-based practice guidelines that are diagnosis/condition specific. The National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) is a public resource for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. NGC is sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the American Medical Association and the American Association of Health Plans. There are over 1000 disease/condition guidelines that can be accessed through their website (www.guideline.gov).
The Chronic Care Model (CCM) (http://www.improvingchroniccare.org/change/index.html) was developed under the Improving Chronic Illness Care Program. The CCM is in use in a variety of healthcare settings, providing a structured approach for clinical improvement. The CCM has been used to develop specific approaches for serving patients with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma and depression in a project sponsored by the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), a not-for-profit organization driving the improvement of health by advancing the quality and value of health care. The Health Disparities Collaboratives (http://www.healthdisparities.net/) are a multi-year national initiative to implement models of patient care and change management in order to transform the system of care for underserved populations.
The organizing principles for each of Health Disparities Manuals follows the key elements of the CCM; many of the components apply to each disease entity (e.g., diabetes, asthma, depression), while specific tasks and tools are unique to the specific disease entity. The key change concepts found in the Depression Collaborative manual include:
Organization of Health Care/Leadership -
There are also differences between rural and urban environments and among regional markets in terms of the resources available and ease or difficulty of access to services. The Four Quadrant Integration model provides a template for considering the resources locally available and developing alternative methods of coordination (for example, telemedicine) that may be required when specialty care (either physical or behavioral health) is delivered in another community.
The Four Quadrant Clinical Integration model is not diagnosis specific; it looks at degree of clinical complexity and risk/level of functioning. Further, the evidence-base is at different levels of development in each of the Quadrants. The model is intended to provide a conceptual construct for how to integrate services. Diagnosis specific guidelines should be used to provide detailed guidance for the scope of the primary care provider, the primary care based behavioral health provider, and the specialty behavioral health provider.
In the healthcare system, there are numerous evidence-based practice guidelines that are diagnosis/condition specific. The National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) is a public resource for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. NGC is sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the American Medical Association and the American Association of Health Plans. There are over 1000 disease/condition guidelines that can be accessed through their website (www.guideline.gov).
The Chronic Care Model (CCM) (http://www.improvingchroniccare.org/change/index.html) was developed under the Improving Chronic Illness Care Program. The CCM is in use in a variety of healthcare settings, providing a structured approach for clinical improvement. The CCM has been used to develop specific approaches for serving patients with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma and depression in a project sponsored by the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), a not-for-profit organization driving the improvement of health by advancing the quality and value of health care. The Health Disparities Collaboratives (http://www.healthdisparities.net/) are a multi-year national initiative to implement models of patient care and change management in order to transform the system of care for underserved populations.
The organizing principles for each of Health Disparities Manuals follows the key elements of the CCM; many of the components apply to each disease entity (e.g., diabetes, asthma, depression), while specific tasks and tools are unique to the specific disease entity. The key change concepts found in the Depression Collaborative manual include:
Organization of Health Care/Leadership -
- Make sure senior leaders and staff visibly support and promote the effort to improve chronic care
- Make improving chronic care a part of the organization's vision, mission, goals, performance improvement, and business plan
- Make sure senior leaders actively support the improvement effort by removing barriers and providing necessary resources
- Assign day-to-day leadership for continued clinical improvement
- Integrate collaborative models into the quality improvement program
Decision Support -
- Embed evidence-based guidelines in the care delivery system
- Establish linkages with key specialists to assure that primary care providers have access to expert support
- Provide skill oriented interactive training programs for all staff in support of chronic illness improvement
- Educate patients about guidelines
Delivery System Design -
- Identify depressed patients during visits for other purposes
- Use the registry to proactively review care and plan visits
- Assign roles, duties and tasks for planned visits to a multidisciplinary care team. Use cross training to expand staff capability
- Use planned visits in individual and group settings
- Make designated staff responsible for follow-up by various methods, including outreach workers, telephone calls and home visits
Clinical Information System -
- Establish a registry
- Develop processes for use of the registry, including designating personnel to enter data, assure data integrity, and maintain the registry
- Use the registry to generate reminders and care planning tools for individual patients
- Use the registry to provide feedback to care team and leaders
Self- Management -
- Use depression self management tools that are based on evidence of effectiveness
- Set and document self management goals collaboratively with patients
- Train providers and other key staff on how to help patients with self management goals
- Follow up and monitor self management goals
- Use group visits to support self management
Community -
- Establish links with organizations to develop support programs and policies
- Link to community resources for defrayed medication costs, education and materials
- Encourage participation in community education classes and support groups
- Raise community awareness through networking, outreach and education
- Provide a list of community resources to patients, families and staff
