Improving Pediatric Mental Health Care Access: New Toolkit and Collaborative

The EMSC Innovation and Improvement Center (EIIC), in collaboration with the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access (PMHCA) Program, has launched a Technical Assistance Toolkit. This comprehensive toolkit is designed to assist PMHCA teams of pediatric primary care and other providers in navigating the intricacies of working with ED clinicians to improve pediatric mental health care.

The toolkit offers guidance on applying quality improvement (QI) methods to foster positive change. It provides teams with a structured approach to identify areas for improvement, devise effective implementation plans, and measure the impact of their efforts. The overarching goal is to elevate the quality of mental and behavioral health resources and services offered in EDs nationwide.

Next up: A new collaborative

EIIC and PMHCA also welcome 13 PMHCA teams, comprising both new and returning members, to participate in an ED Expansion QI Collaborative. This collaborative, which kicked off on Feb. 22, aims to cultivate a supportive learning community for the teams with a dedicated focus on enriching connections and resource-sharing between primary care and ED clinicians.

Welcome to the new Teams!

In addition to the continuation of returning teams from Delaware, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Washington, PMHCA is pleased to welcome seven new teams to the ED Expansion QI Collaborative. These teams represent diverse regions, each committed to contributing to enhancing pediatric mental health care access. The new teams include:

• Chickasaw Nation (Oklahoma)
• Iowa
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Nebraska
• Ohio
• Vermont
• Virgin Islands (EMSC State Partnership Program Manager)

“As these teams come together, the collaborative is poised to drive positive changes in pediatric mental health care access, ultimately benefiting children and families in emergency situations”, says Jen Donathan, MPH, Project Manager, PMHCA TA Development Program “We are dedicated to supporting these teams as they work towards creating more accessible, responsive, and effective pediatric mental health care in emergency settings.

Learn more about the toolkit and collaborative efforts here.