INNOVATIONS THAT WORK
Co-management, or "shared care" is a health system innovation that helps children receive the care they need, when they need it, and in a familiar place.
In co-managed care, pediatric primary care providers work collaboratively with subspecialty providers to treat patients for certain high-volume, lower-acuity conditions traditionally managed by specialists.
Co-management in Connecticut
Connecticut Children’s Medical Center began exploring co-management strategies in response to challenges meeting the demand for specialty care. From 2009-2013, CHDI’s parent organization, the Children’s Fund of Connecticut, funded Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (Connecticut Children’s) efforts to fully develop and test co-management for several common pediatric conditions, including: hematuria, migraines, Lyme disease, concussion and obesity.
Connecticut Children’s found that co-management brought efficiency and coordination to patient care. Medical subspecialists continue to team up with pediatric primary providers to co-manage care.
For more information, see our joint IMPACT publication, "Working Together to Meet Children's Health Needs: Primary and Specialty Care Co-Management" or visit CT Children’s Co-management page.
CHDI applied the co-management model developed at CT Children’s to anxiety and depression. The model helps increase the capacity of pediatric primary care providers to address mental health concerns at a time when there are too few mental health professionals, resulting in long wait times and decreased access for children.
CHDI worked with pediatric primary care providers and their mental health partners to develop and test algorithms that primary care providers can use to:
- Identify children who experience anxiety or depression
- Link them to mental health services
- Follow their treatment progress
Contact us or read more about anxiety and depression co-management.