Objectives: This presentation aims to describe the unique opportunities and challenges encountered in the development and delivery of telepsychiatric consultation services through the Michigan Child Psychiatry Access Program (MC3). We will specifically address outreach to vulnerable populations, and to adaptations during the time of COVID-19. Methods: A review of existing program data will describe the populations served, number of consultations provided, naming of types of services offered, funding relationships, and current state of service delivery within the MC3 program. Results: Over the course of 10 years, the MC3 program has provided 8500 consultations to pediatric primary care and perinatal providers. Pilot programming has also included services to populations of specific need, particularly the children and families of Flint, and the Tribal Health Centers of Michigan. The most common diagnoses discussed are related to anxiety, depression, and ADHD. During 2020, approximately 30% of consultations were related to the impact of COVID-19. The rate of consultation during the initial period of the pandemic fell by 37% from the year prior, and beginning in November of 2020, the rate of consultation resumed to rates maintained prior to the pandemic. We will present more detailed demographic data on the sociodemographic representation of patients we consulted on during the pandemic time period. We will also describe additional education efforts that include 87 live and recorded educational presentations on a variety of topics. Conclusions: Scaffolding a telepsychiatry program such as MC3 requires significant foundational and ongoing resources. A dedicated staff, ongoing relationships with the existing community mental health infrastructure, and sustainable funding allow for this program to be responsive to the changing needs of a state’s population. Despite this, significant work remains to leverage this service as a tool to narrow healthcare disparities in child mental health. Responsive changes to data collection and direct engagement with local community mental health centers can allow for the identification of needs specific to certain populations, particularly during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. CON, TVM, DEI
Michigan Child Collaborative Care Program (mc3): Ten Years of Growth, Adaptation, and Learning