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Engagement in GI Behavioral Health Is Associated with Reduced Portal Messages, Phone Calls, and ED Visits

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Abstract

Background and Aims

Chronic digestive disorders are associated with increased costs for healthcare systems and often require provision of both urgent care and non-face-to-face (non-F2F) care, such as responding to patient messages. Numerous benefits of integrated gastroenterology (GI) behavioral health have been identified; however, it is unclear if integrated care impacts healthcare utilization, including urgent care and non-F2F contact. We sought to investigate the association between patient engagement with GI behavioral health and healthcare utilization.

Methods

We performed a retrospective chart review study of adult patients who were referred for and completed at least one behavioral health appointment between January 1, 2019 and December 21, 2021 in the Gastroenterology and Hepatology department of a large academic medical center. Data on electronic medical record (EMR) messages, phone calls, and Emergency Department utilization were collected 6 months before and 9 months after patient engagement with GI behavioral health.

Results

466 adult patients completed at least one behavioral health visit from 2019 to 2021. Overall, messages, phone calls, and ED visits all decreased significantly from the 6 months before behavioral health treatment to 6 months after (all P values < 0.001).

Conclusion

Engagement with integrated GI behavioral health is associated with reduced non-F2F care and emergency department utilization in patients with chronic digestive disorders. Increasing access to GI behavioral health may result in reduced provider workload and healthcare system costs.

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Funding

This work received support from Susan and Richard Levy Healthcare Delivery Incubator.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, 13400 East Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, USA

    Brian J. Arizmendi

  2. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Meredith R. Craven

  3. Department of Anesthesiology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA

    Pablo Martinez-Camblor

  4. Department of Biomedical Data Science, Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH, USA

    Pablo Martinez-Camblor

  5. Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA

    Lauren K. Tormey & Jessica K. Salwen-Deremer

  6. Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA

    Jessica K. Salwen-Deremer

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  1. Brian J. Arizmendi
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Contributions

B. A. was lead in project conceptualization, planning, and drafting of the manuscript; M.C. contributed to project conceptualization and drafting of the manuscript; P. M-C conducted statistical analyses and interpretation; L.T. contributed to collecting data, drafting of the manuscript; J. S-D contributed to planning/conducting study, collecting data, and drafting of the manuscript. Each author has approved the final draft of the manuscript being submitted.

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Correspondence to Brian J. Arizmendi.

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Arizmendi, B.J., Craven, M.R., Martinez-Camblor, P. et al. Engagement in GI Behavioral Health Is Associated with Reduced Portal Messages, Phone Calls, and ED Visits. Dig Dis Sci (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-024-08428-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-024-08428-3

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