Card Study of the Collaborative Care Research Network

Study Description and Methods

This study was done in-kind. No outside funding was received. The study investigated the viability of whether collaborative models of primary care resulted in increased access to care by testing how often patients referred for behavioral health services actually initiate contact. This study helped us understand the differences between those who initiate treatment and those who do not. We used the Codman card methodology to collect process information from primary care physicians and behavioral health clinicians.

The specific aims for this study were:

1. Describe the characteristics of patients who are treated in primary care practices in which a collaborative model of primary care and behavioral health clinician comanagement of care is used;
2. Identify the differences between patients who initiate and do not initiate care after referral from primary care;
3. Calculate rates of treatment initiation following referral to behavioral health;
4. Determine the length of time between referral and treatment initiation;

Key Findings and Publications

Behavioral Health Referrals and Treatment Initiation Rates in Integrated Primary Care: A Collaborative Care Research Network Study. Auxier A, Mullin D, Runyan C, et al. Trans Behav Med. 2012. EPub 6 June 2012.

Establishing the Collaborative Care Research Network (CCRN): A Description of Initial Participating Sites. Sieber WJ, Miller BF, Kessler R, et al.  Fam Sys Health. 2012;30(3):210-223

Key findings from this study were also presented at the seventh annual AHRQ National PBRN Research Conference, June 22-24 in Bethesda, Maryland.

Contact Information

For additional information about this study, please contact:

Rodger Kessler, PhD
Rodger.Kessler@asu.edu