Community Mental Health Journal

, Volume 52, Issue 6, pp 667–674 | Cite as

A Randomized Clinical Trial Investigating the Effect of a Healthcare Access Model for Individuals with Severe Psychiatric Disabilities

  • E. Sally Rogers
  • Mihoko Maru
  • Megan Kash-MacDonald
  • Mariah Archer-Williams
  • Lobat Hashemi
  • Judith Boardman
Brief Report
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

We conducted a randomized trial to examine a model for integrating primary care into a community mental health setting. Two hundred individuals were recruited and randomly assigned to receive primary care delivered by a nurse practitioner (n = 94) or services-as-usual (n = 106), assessed on health and mental health outcomes, and followed for 12 months. Intent-to-Treat and exposure analyses were conducted and suggest that participants who engaged with the nurse practitioner experienced gains in perceptions of primary care quality. Health benefits accrued for individuals having receiving nurse practitioner services in a mental health setting to address primary care needs.

Keywords

Primary care Integrated care Physical health Coordination of care Morbidity and mortality Nurse practitioner 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, #H133B040026. The results do not express the opinions of the funding bodies. The authors would like to thank the following individuals who were instrumental in the conduct of this study: Northeast Health Systems, Louise Sebba and Kathleen MacDonald.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of interest

None for any author.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  • E. Sally Rogers
    • 1
  • Mihoko Maru
    • 1
    • 3
  • Megan Kash-MacDonald
    • 1
    • 4
  • Mariah Archer-Williams
    • 1
    • 5
  • Lobat Hashemi
    • 1
    • 6
  • Judith Boardman
    • 2
    • 7
  1. 1.Center for Psychiatric RehabilitationBoston UniversityBostonUSA
  2. 2.Northeast Health Systems/Health and Education Services, Inc.BeverlyUSA
  3. 3.Boston University School of Social WorkBostonUSA
  4. 4.Institute of Child HealthUniversity College London (UCL)LondonEngland
  5. 5.Sharp HealthCareSan DiegoUSA
  6. 6.Genzyme, SanofiBostonUSA
  7. 7.Salem State UniversitySalemUSA

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