Clinician Commentary on "Integrated Care is Associated With Increased Behavioral Health Access and Utilization for Youth in Crisis" by Sean O'Dell

Comments on the article "Integrated care is associated with increased behavioral health access and utilization for youth in crisis" by Sean O'Dell (see record 2022-06988-003). As a pediatrician with a practice focused exclusively on pediatric mental health, I am highly motivated to improve care by minimizing barriers to accessing care, and ensuring that the right care is delivered at the right time and in the right place. I am based in the outpatient clinic of a large mental health hospital (Waypoint Center for Mental Health Care) in rural central Ontario. As part of this program, I also have the opportunity to support integrated care clinics at four Family Health Teams (analogous to patient-centered medical homes), where I collaborate with child and youth therapists and primary care providers. In this setting, there is improved information sharing among the clinical team members, including shared documentation, which improves access and quality of care for pediatric patients and their families. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).