Increasing Health Care Choices and Improving Health Outcomes Among Persons With Serious Mental Illness

Background: Americans with serious mental illnesses (SMI) die an average of 25 years earlier due to modifiable risk factors, medical conditions, and lack of access to quality, coordinated care. Strategies for addressing this disparity have amassed evidence. What remains to be determined is who will choose to use these evidence-based practices (EBPs) when implemented in routine practice, in what combinations, with what short term effects and health outcomes, and what else might be needed for persons for whom these strategies are not effective.

Objectives: The proposed research builds upon the investigators receipt of a SAMHSA grant that established an integrated Wellness Center (WC) within the local mental health center that provides four EBPs: a) on-site primary care; b) screening of clients for modifiable risk factors and medical conditions; c) care coordination; and d) peer health navigation. Through PCORI, the investigators propose to add a comparative effectiveness dimension and a focus on patient-centered outcomes. The investigators specific aims are:

1. to assess patient preferences and use of services, short-term effects, and longer term outcomes associated with various practices for the population and subpopulations;
2. to identify barriers to and facilitators of access, service use, and improvements in traditional and patient-centered health outcomes; and
3. to develop and pilot a peer-led, community-based intervention in enhancing access and choice, and improving patient-centered health outcomes, among 40 treatment-refractory clients of the WC.

The investigators long-term objectives are to: a) identify which practices work for which persons with SMI in improving health and patient-centered outcomes, and b) provide stakeholders around the nation with the knowledge and tools to replicate this model efficiently, effectively, and broadly.

Methods: The sample includes 360 poor, urban adults with SMI who are at risk for or have co-morbid medical conditions. Using participatory and mixed methodology, the investigators will assess Specific Aims 1 & 2 by collecting health and patient-centered outcome data on patients entering the WC and at 6 month follow-up intervals and analyze the data using Linear Mixed Models and logistic regression. Outcome data from the pilot intervention (Aim 3; N=40) will be compared to outcomes of a propensity matched sample of WC patients. Qualitative data will be collected each year through focus groups (N=48 agency stakeholders, year 1) and individual interviews (50 WC patients, years 2 & 3).