Beyond the Bottom Dollar: How C-L Psychiatry Initiatives Can Add Value to Patient Care Across the Lifespan. Sponsored by ACLP's Division Director's SIG

In the current climate of funding and other challenges to conventional consultation-liaison (C-L) services, developing value-added programs is necessary. Newer models of integrative care delivery such as proactive consultation programs that bill for services from medical, rather than behavioral, insurance dollars are one way to accomplish this (Kathol et al 2009). But beyond just remunerative benefits, innovative C-L programs can provide additional advantages to stakeholders who are likely to be those who pay for the services that they provide - whether this be via increased quality of care or achievement of other strategic priorities.

In this live workshop sponsored by the Division Directors SIG, the panelists (all C-L service chiefs or directors) will present four different evidence-based, “value-added” initiatives they have developed within their respective institutions that specifically address populations across the lifespan. We will present both net cost and quality data, arguing that it is indeed possible for our specialty to enhance value relative to the cost of providing care. A portion of each speaker’s presentation will be dedicated to interactive audience participation via polling to gauge patterns of consensus, and to see how audience members would respond to real-life scenarios with the resources they have available to them at their respective institutions.

Introduction (5 minutes)
Dr. Bronson will provide a brief overview of the concept of value in healthcare and the importance of demonstrating value to support services growth in consultation-liaison psychiatry.

Speaker 1 (15 minutes)
Dr. Rosenthal will present some successes and challenges in the initiation and maintenance of a collaborative care model program at an academic medical center. She will review current state finances and quality measures, as well as some implementation data.

Speaker 2 (15 minutes)
Dr. Novoa will present qualitative data on the impact of having proactive/embedded psychologists in the pediatric unit of a Level I Trauma Center hospital. He will discuss the pivotal role psychologists play not only in the treatment of patients, but in liaison work with their families and staff in times of crisis.

Speaker 3 (15 minutes)
Dr. Dickerman will discuss the process and outcomes of launching a Behavioral Emergency Response Team program in response to institutional strategic priorities around “zero harm”. She will review net cost and quality data from this project, as well as demographic findings indicating large utilization among the geriatric patient population.

Speaker 4 (15 minutes)
Dr. Jimenez will present clinical, sociodemographic, and financial data capturing the benefits of a combined med-psych unit, demonstrating its direct and indirect value measures not only for primary medical teams but also nursing and social work stakeholders. The role of the C-L psychiatrist is integral to this model, and he will summarize best approaches to designing, implementing, and justifying the use of this innovative care delivery option.
Question/Answer (20 minutes)

References:
Kathol RG, Kunkel EJ, Weiner JS, McCarron RM, Worley LL, Yates WR, Summergrad P, Huyse FJ. Psychiatrists for medically complex patients: bringing value at the physical health and mental health/substance-use disorder interface. Psychosomatics. 2009 Mar-Apr;50(2):93-107.