The Value of a Pearls Gathering

At the end of the first pandemic year, BHCs from multiple sites at the Pediatric Physicians’ Organization at Children’s (PPOC) convened to reflect on what we called the “Pearls of 2020 – Staying Integrated During the Pandemic.”

The Pearls initiative identified six key elements of integration, each of which linked to specific activities we had implemented to advance integration across our network that were now jeopardized by the pandemic. At the Pearls gathering, BHCs had the opportunity to speak about the integrated care activities that they had maintained or even developed under those unprecedented circumstances. They reflected on both the challenges they faced and the value these activities brought. While everyone had already been engaging in at least one of the listed activities, this was the first time that BHCs were exposed to a collective understanding of the integrated efforts across different sites and how each team contributed to preserving integration. 

Our list is just one of many possible compilations and is neither exhaustive nor definitive in determining what constitutes integration. But, in our case, it played a crucial role in maintaining a certain level of integration during challenging times and in celebrating the accomplishments. And so, it resonates with me now, as questions arise about how to navigate and survive the impact of current administration policies on our integrated programs around the country and the importance of being a community of support for each other here at CFHA.

Adapting our Elements of Integration

Proactive, Preventive Approach 

• Scrubbing PCP Schedules: Identifying patients in need of a warm handoff or curbside consultation ensured timely virtual behavioral health support. 

• Conducting Virtual Team Huddles: Pre-visit strategizing facilitated appropriate behavioral health interventions, enhancing patient care. 

Timely Access to BHC 

• Warm Handoffs: Transitioning WHO’s to virtual settings ensured the continuity of seamless patient care and accessibility. 

• Same-Day Consultation Slots: Establishing virtual slots allowed quick access to BHCs, minimizing delays in care. 

Coordinated, Collaborative Care 

• Virtual Curbside Consults: Enabling technology for virtual WHO’s also enabled real-time consultations between PCPs and BHCs. 

• Collaborative Visits: Same-day, staggered appointments with PCPs and BHCs maintained collaborative treatment planning through integrated strategies. 

Population Health 

• BH Website Content: Developing online resources supported patients and families with valuable behavioral health information. 

• Virtual Groups and Workshops: Providing collective support and education through online platforms reached confined patient communities. 

Team-Based Care 

• Team Self-Care Strategies: Promoting self-care among teams helped mitigate burnout and foster resilience. 

• Interprofessional Education: Building educational activities contributed to maintaining healthy team dynamics and professional growth. 

As we face new challenges, it’s essential to preserve and adapt our elements of integrated care. Reflecting on the valuable lessons from past experiences as we move forward can help strengthen integrated care practices, allowing us to face future ordeals with hope and determination. After all, and in the words of Vaclav Havel, “hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.”

Photo by Marin Tulard on Unsplash