Child Health Needs and the Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Workforce Supply: 2020-2040.

Developmental-behavioral pediatrics (DBP) subspecialists care for children with complex neurodevelopmental and behavioral health conditions; additional roles include education and training, advocacy, and research. In 2023, there were 1.0 DBP subspecialists per 100 000 US children aged 0 to 17 years (range 0.0-3.8), with wide variability in DBP subspecialist distribution. Given the prevalence of DB conditions, the current workforce is markedly inadequate to meet the needs of patients and families. The American Board of Pediatrics Foundation led a modeling project to forecast the US pediatric subspecialty workforce from 2020 to 2040 using current trends in each subspecialty. The model predicts workforce supply at baseline and across alternative scenarios and reports results in headcount (HC) and HC adjusted for percent time spent in clinical care, termed "clinical workforce equivalent." For DBP, the baseline model predicts HC growth nationally (+45%, from 669 to 958), but these extremely low numbers translate to minimal patient care impact. Adjusting for population growth over time, projected HC increases from 0.8 to 1.0 and clinical workforce equivalent from 0.5 to 0.6 DBP subspecialists per 100 000 children aged 0 to 18 years by 2040. Even in the best-case scenario (+12.5% in fellows by 2030 and +7% in time in clinical care), the overall numbers would be minimally affected. These current and forecasted trends should be used to shape much-needed solutions in education, training, practice, policy, and workforce research to increase the DBP workforce and improve overall child health.

Defining Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics.

There is an insufficient number of specialty developmental-behavioral pediatrics (DBP) physicians, despite nearly 25% of children and adolescents having a developmental, learning, behavioral, or emotional problem. In the nearly 20 years since becoming a board-certified subspecialty, the definition of DBP clinical practice remains somewhat unclear. This lack of clarity likely contributes to recruitment challenges and workforce issues, and limited visibility of DBP among parents, other professionals, payors, and administrators. Defining DBP is therefore an important step in the survival and growth of the field. In this paper, we describe the methodology used to develop this definition along with the origins of DBP, the persistent challenges to defining its scope, what training in DBP involves, and what distinguishes DBP from other overlapping fields of medicine. We propose the following definition of DBP: developmental-behavioral pediatrics (DBP) is a board-certified, medical subspecialty that cares for children with complex and severe DBP problems by recognizing the multifaceted influences on the development and behavior of children and addressing them through systems-based practice and a neurodevelopmental, strength-based approach that optimizes functioning. Developmental behavioral pediatricians care for children from birth through young adulthood along a continuum including those suspected of, at risk for, or known to have developmental and behavioral disorders.

Changes in Provider Type and Prescription Refills Among Privately Insured Children and Youth With ADHD.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to understand associations between age and health care provider type in medication continuation among transition-aged youth with ADHD. METHOD: Using an employer-sponsored insurance claims database, we identified patients with likely ADHD and receipt of ADHD medications. Among patients who had an outpatient physician visit at baseline and maintained enrollment at follow-up 3 years later, we evaluated which ones continued to fill prescriptions for ADHD medications. RESULTS: Patients who were younger at follow-up more frequently continued medication (77% of 11-12 year-olds vs. 52% of 19-20 year-olds). Those who saw a pediatric provider at baseline and follow-up more frequently continued to fill ADHD medication prescriptions than those who saw a pediatric provider at baseline and non-pediatric providers at follow-up (71% vs. 53% among those ages 15-16 years at follow-up). CONCLUSION: Adolescents and young adults with ADHD who changed from pediatric to exclusively non-pediatric providers less frequently continued to receive ADHD medications.

Using Practice Facilitation to Improve Depression Management in Rural Pediatric Primary Care Practices.

INTRODUCTION: Depression is a common and serious mental health condition frequently encountered in pediatric primary care. Pediatricians report discomfort in managing depression due in part to limited training and limited access to mental health care, which is accentuated in rural areas. METHODS: We developed an evidence-based, quality improvement project designed to help pediatricians increase screening and initial management of depression in the primary care setting. We recruited practices from a pediatric accountable care organization as part of a larger quality improvement portfolio that used a practice facilitation model to support practices with data collection and project management. Practitioners received training on quality improvement, depression screening, and a depression management plan (referred to as the depression management bundle). Practices completed Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles to improve their performance. RESULTS: We recruited 4 practices in rural Ohio to participate. Screening increased from 0% to 81% within 6 months. All 4 practices measured documentation of the depression management bundle for patients diagnosed with depression. Composite data from these practices showed an increase in documentation from 59% to 86% by month 6. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary support for the use of practice facilitation combined with skills training to increase screening and improve documentation of depression management in rural primary care practices, where specialty mental health resources may be limited. Further research is needed to determine if this approach can be successfully disseminated and if patient outcomes improved.

Comparison of Performance on ADHD Quality of Care Indicators: Practitioner Self-Report Versus Chart Review.

Objective: This study compared practitioner self-report of ADHD quality of care measures with actual performance, as documented by chart review. Method: In total, 188 practitioners from 50 pediatric practices completed questionnaires in which they self-reported estimates of ADHD quality of care indicators. A total of 1,599 charts were reviewed. Results: The percentage of patients for whom practitioners self-reported that they used evidence-based care was higher in every performance category when compared with chart review, including higher use of parent and teacher rating scales during assessment and treatment compared with chart review. Self-reported use of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV) criteria during assessment was also higher than by chart review. The actual number of days until the first contact after starting medication was nearly three times longer than self-report estimates. Conclusion: Practitioners overreport performance on quality of care indicators. These differences were large and consistent across ADHD diagnostic and treatment monitoring practices. Practitioner self-report of ADHD guideline adherence should not be considered a valid measure of performance.

Outcomes of a Statewide Learning Collaborative to Implement Mental Health Services in Pediatric Primary Care.

OBJECTIVE: Mental health concerns are common in pediatric primary care, but practitioners report low levels of comfort managing them. A primary care intervention addressing organizational and individual factors was developed to improve the management of common mental health conditions. METHODS: Twenty-nine practices participated in a statewide learning collaborative over 18 months. On-site training was used to teach communication and brief intervention skills and develop an organizational context supportive of mental health. Clinician confidence was measured pre- and postintervention. Medicaid claims data were used to estimate the intervention's effects on identification of mental health conditions and prescribing practices. RESULTS: Mean clinician confidence scores increased by 20% (95% confidence interval [CI]=15% to 25%), from 2.92 at baseline to 3.55 postintervention. In the first month of the preintervention year, 6.65% of patients with an office visit had at least one visit for a mental health condition, rising to 9% postintervention; this trend was driven by detection and treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Rates of prescribing ADHD medication to patients with visits for ADHD increased by 0.12 percentage points per month (CI=0.02 to 0.22, p=0.022). Rates of prescribing second-generation antipsychotics to all patients with office visits decreased by 0.014 percentage points per month (CI=-.03 to -.00, p=0.028), relative to preintervention trends. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a multicomponent intervention addressing individual staff and organizational factors together can promote identification and treatment of child mental health conditions in primary care. Future research is required to better understand the core components, impact on health outcomes, and sustainability.

A Learning Collaborative Approach to Improve Mental Health Service Delivery in Pediatric Primary Care.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric primary care practitioners (PPCPs) report inadequate training in the care of children with common mental health conditions. Although additional training is needed, system changes are also necessary to support improvements in care. METHODS: We developed the Building Mental Wellness Learning Collaborative to assist PPCPs in delivering better mental health services in primary care by targeting 5 focus areas: mental health promotion; early identification and screening; practitioner skills; collaboration and community linkages; and medication management. Aims were developed for each area. RESULTS: Twenty-one practices and 50 practitioners completed the collaborative in 2 seven-month waves. For mental health promotion, ≥85% of charts showed documentation in 3 of 4 preselected areas. For early identification/screening, screening increased, but the ≥85% goal was not met. For practitioner skills, a ≥20% increase in the proportion of children/youth ≥1 visits for anxiety or depression was achieved, from 0.70% of children/youth in the 12 months preintervention to 1.09% children/youth in the 12 months after. For collaboration/linkages, mental health referral completion was unchanged and below the 60% goal. For medication use, a ≥15% increase in selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor prescribing by Building Mental Wellness (BMW) practitioners was achieved from 0.72% children/youth with office visits pre-BMW to 0.92% post. Prescribing did not decrease for atypical antipsychotic medication use or for psychotropic medication use in children younger than 6 years, although there was a trend toward more appropriate prescribing. CONCLUSIONS: The BMW Learning Collaborative was effective in helping PPCPs implement certain aspects of a comprehensive approach to the delivery of mental health services in primary care.

The role of organizational context in the implementation of a statewide initiative to integrate mental health services into pediatric primary care.

BACKGROUND: Although there is evidence that mental health services can be delivered in pediatric primary care with good outcomes, few changes in service delivery have been seen over the past decade. Practices face a number of barriers, making interventions that address determinants of change at multiple levels a promising solution. However, these interventions may need appropriate organizational contexts in place to be successfully implemented. PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to test whether organizational context (culture, climate, structures/processes, and technologies) influenced uptake of a complex intervention to implement mental health services in pediatric primary care. METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: We incorporated our research into the implementation and evaluation of Ohio Building Mental Wellness Wave 3, a learning collaborative with on-site trainings and technical assistance supporting key drivers of mental health care implementation. Simple linear regression was used to test the effects of organizational context and external or fixed organizational characteristics on program uptake. RESULTS: Culture, structure/processes, and technologies scores indicating a more positive organizational context for mental health at the project's start, as well as general cultural values that were more group/developmental, were positively associated with uptake. Patient-centered medical home certification and use of electronic medical records were also associated with greater uptake. Changes in context over the course of Building Mental Wellness did not influence uptake. CONCLUSION: Organizational culture, structures/processes, and technologies are important determinants of the uptake of activities to implement mental health services in pediatric primary care. Interventions may be able to change these aspects of context to make them more favorable to integration, but baseline characteristics more heavily influence the more proximal uptake of program activities. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Pediatric primary care practices would benefit from assessing their organizational context and taking steps to address it prior to or in a phased approach with mental health service implementation.

Improving Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric care workflow.

: Experience and available research suggest that Developmental Behavioral Pediatric (DBP) practice is both complex and variable. Variability involves multiple aspects of DBP care, from activities before the visit (e.g. triage and collecting information) to activities during (e.g. history taking and testing) and after the visit (e.g. care coordination). Together these activities represent workflow, a series of clinical events by which health care is delivered. In complex systems, workflow variation often suggests the presence of inefficiency or inconsistent quality. Given the current environment of increasing health care costs and an increasing focus on quality, DBP practitioners must be mindful of these concepts for the field of DBP to remain viable. In order to characterize current DBP practice and identify common challenges, a workshop was developed with the ultimate goal of identifying potential solutions for improving both quality and efficiency. This paper summarizes the workshop findings and proposes future directions to foster improvements in DBP workflow.

Healthcare reform, quality, and technology: ADHD as a case study.

The concepts of healthcare reform and population health are shifting the emphasis from traditional, volume-based care to a model in which value, or quality, predominates. High quality care will be increasingly rewarded, with financial consequences for poor performance. This shift will be accelerated by the use of healthcare technology, a rapidly growing industry with tools ranging from electronic health records to smart phones and web portals. In this article we highlight pertinent legislative reforms followed by a review of technologies that may play a role in the implementation of these reforms. Pediatric Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is used as an example given the large number of proposed tools for this condition. While the evidence base is weak for some technologies, research regarding web portals is better developed and will be presented as an example of a technology that may allow practitioners and organizations to improve healthcare quality in several dimensions.

Navigating ethical issues with electronic health records in developmental-behavioral pediatric practice.

The increasing use of electronic health records (EHRs) allows for sharing of information across clinicians, quick access to laboratory results, and supports for documentation. However, this environment raises new issues of ethics and privacy, and it magnifies other issues that existed with paper records. In developmental-behavioral pediatrics (DBP) practice, which relies heavily on a team approach to blend pediatrics, mental health, and allied health, these issues are even more complicated. In this review, we highlight the ethical and privacy issues in DBP practice related to EHR use. Case examples illustrate the potential risks related to EHR access, confidentiality, and interprofessional collaboration. Suggestions to mitigate some of the ethical and privacy issues associated with EHRs at both an administrative level and a clinician level are included. With the expected increase in the adoption of EHRs by DBP clinicians in the near future, professional standards will need to be defined, and novel technological solutions may offer additional safeguards. Until then, professionals and organizations are responsible to uphold the standards of ethical practice while promoting effective information exchange to facilitate clinical care.

Glucan particles for selective delivery of siRNA to phagocytic cells in mice.

Phagocytic macrophages and dendritic cells are desirable targets for potential RNAi (RNA interference) therapeutics because they often mediate pathogenic inflammation and autoimmune responses. We recently engineered a complex 5 component glucan-based encapsulation system for siRNA (small interfering RNA) delivery to phagocytes. In experiments designed to simplify this original formulation, we discovered that the amphipathic peptide Endo-Porter forms stable nanocomplexes with siRNA that can mediate potent gene silencing in multiple cell types. In order to restrict such gene silencing to phagocytes, a method was developed to entrap siRNA-Endo-Porter complexes in glucan shells of 2-4 µm diameter in the absence of other components. The resulting glucan particles containing fluorescently labelled siRNA were readily internalized by macrophages, but not other cell types, and released the labelled siRNA into the macrophage cytoplasm. Intraperitoneal administration of such glucan particles containing siRNA-Endo-Porter complexes to mice caused gene silencing specifically in macrophages that internalized the particles. These results from the present study indicate that specific targeting to phagocytes is mediated by the glucan, whereas Endo-Porter peptide serves both to anchor siRNA within glucan particles and to catalyse escape of siRNA from phagosomes. Thus we have developed a simplified siRNA delivery system that effectively and specifically targets phagocytes in culture or in intact mice.