Children's Hospitals Today - Spring 2024 - 16

FEATURE / IMPROVEMENT
doing it differently, but
it's important to seek
out that information. "
COHEN CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER
Behavioral Health
-ROBERT FRANKLIN, II
Director of diversity, health
equity, and inclusion,
Children's Hospital
Colorado
How do you keep
frontline staff engaged
in QI projects?
" The biggest impact
of frontline staff
engagement is getting
the data back to the staff
in a way they understand
it and connecting the
story back to what
they're doing. "
-AUDREY BARNETT
Service line program
manager for neonatal
and pediatrics, Memorial
Hermann Health System
When thinking about
children's health care
quality, what topic
arose in the past year
that surprised you?
" The influx of nonEnglish
speaking
patients. I don't know
that we were prepared
on all levels from a
quality perspective. "
-NICOLE LABORDE
Assistant vice president
of ambulatory services,
Children's Hospital of
New Orleans
" There are a lot of
priorities and social
needs in our community.
The influx of diverse
patients requires our
attention to understand
their cultural needs and
how to integrate that
within our teams. "
-SONIA CARTER
Director of language
access services, Children's
Hospital of New Orleans
THE EXPERTS
Vera Feuer, MD, Director, Pediatric Emergency Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Urgent Care
Bianca Del Gatto, MSEd, LMHC, Director, Operations
A solution to psychiatrist shortages
Cohen Children's Medical Center developed a behavioral health care model centered on
schools, with one behavioral health center serving as a hub for multiple districts. Staffed by
board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists, licensed mental health counselors, and
care coordinators, the centers provide psychiatric assessments and short-term crisis care.
" With the hub-and-spoke model, kids
always have access to a psychiatrist. "
-VERA FEUER
How it works
IMMEDIATE SUPPORT
Referrals are triaged, and appointments
are scheduled within days or on the same
day, if needed. Every patient sees a child
psychiatrist, if needed.
TEMPORARY SUPPORT
Services are provided for suicidality and those
transitioning from an inpatient setting. Those
waiting for long-term placement receive bridge
therapy and crisis medication management.
LONG-TERM SUPPORT
Care coordinators connect the student
with a long-term provider.
16
CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS TODAY Spring 2024
The results
Three behavioral health centers serve
284 schools and 200,000 students.
60%
Decrease in referrals to the
emergency department on average.
75%
Students connected with a long-term
provider within six weeks.
95%
Students connected with a long-term
provider within three months.

Children's Hospitals Today - Spring 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Children's Hospitals Today - Spring 2024