Variability of Psychosocial Services Within the ImproveCareNow Learning Health System: Opportunities for Optimization

Abstract

Care for youth with pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the focus of ImproveCareNow (ICN), an international learning health system devoted to quality care and improved outcomes through collaboration, data sharing, and research. Known to be significantly disruptive to normative social development and quality of life, pediatric IBD significantly increases the risk of internalizing distress and secondary developmental sequelae. While multidisciplinary support including psychosocial care (from social workers and pediatric psychologists) is growing, this evidence-based and beneficial set of services is not universally available to youth with IBD. In a survey sent to the more than 100 established ICN centers, psychosocial providers attempted to identify the coverage and practice scope of psychosocial providers within the network. Results indicated that support varies widely by service type and availability of providers. Recommendations for further research and considerations for centers seeking to expand supports are considered.

Is it “all in the bag?” Multidisciplinary perspectives on ostomy surgery in pediatric IBD across the ImproveCareNow network

“…Participants endorsed that collaboration in outpatient settings can be easier, which likely reflects patients being more medically stable and less time acuity to coordinate and collaborate services. Notably, for many ICN sites there are integrated care models for psychosocial health, which may also increase ease and availability of collaborative care with psychologists in these clinical cases 37,38 …”