The M-COPE Psychosocial Program increased outpatient cardiac psychology psychotherapy referrals by 2.5 times from 22 to 55 over five years at a pediatric heart center.
The development of an integrated, multidisciplinary psychosocial program in a pediatric heart center successfully expanded mental health care access, training, and research.
Effect estimate: 2.5-fold increase in referrals
Absolute Event Rate: 55% vs 22%
Abstract Background: Given the high prevalence of mental health challenges, the field of paediatric cardiology has increasingly recognised the need for integrated and embedded psychosocial programming in cardiology care. In response to this, the University of Michigan Congenital Heart Centre Psychosocial and Educational (M-COPE) Program was established in January 2020. This paper aims to describe the development, current structure, preliminary outcomes, and future directions of the M-COPE Program to inform similar programme development efforts. Methods: Informed by a comprehensive needs assessment (group/individual interviews, patient surveys), the M-COPE Program mission centres on expanding (1) psychosocial clinical services, (2) psychosocial research, (3) mental health training for all learners, and (4) advocacy for improved psychosocial care for paediatric cardiology patients and families. Results: In its first five years, the M-COPE Program has expanded access to mental health care by increasing the number of psychosocial clinicians, embedding psychology/perinatal psychiatry in select cardiology clinics, and developing novel modes of service delivery through collaborative efforts across our multidisciplinary teams. Training initiatives have included the development of cardiac psychology fellowships and a mental health curriculum for cardiology physician fellows. Research is foundational to the programme, ranging from federally funded research to centre-specific quality improvement projects. Discussion: The M-COPE Program has become foundational to our heart centre. Future directions include enhancing psychosocial care at home for patients/caregivers, integration of a perinatal psychiatrist, and wider-scale launch of novel patient-focused initiatives. Continued study of programme impact will be ongoing with key metrics including referral patterns and patient/family outcomes.
Cousino et al. (Wed,) conducted a other in pediatric congenital heart disease. M-COPE Psychosocial Program was evaluated on Access to mental health care and outpatient cardiac psychology psychotherapy referrals (2.5-fold increase in referrals). The M-COPE Psychosocial Program increased outpatient cardiac psychology psychotherapy referrals by 2.5 times from 22 to 55 over five years at a pediatric heart center.