Modeling the future of psychiatric care
OneWorld participates in national study to improve integrative mental health services for substance use disorders
Shannon Kinnan, MD, Psychiatrist, oversees OneWorld’s psychiatry services.
What began as an innovative method to treat mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, in the primary care setting has expanded to include treatment for individuals who struggle with substance use disorder.
In 2016, OneWorld collaborated with Creighton University to address how to provide care for the large amount of patients with psychiatric needs in a primary care clinic. Through this collaboration, OneWorld began implementing the Collaborative Care Model (COCM), also known as Advanced Integrative Mental Health Services (AIMS) program.
This method of care was adapted from the University of Washington, a leader in this care model. The model is set up as a triangle that includes the primary care clinician, a behavioral health therapist and a psychiatrist. If a patient presents with a mental health condition, such as depression, the primary care clinician prescribes an antidepressant and refers the patient to see a behavioral health therapist. The therapist then provides therapy and checks in with the patient regarding their medication.
Once a week, the therapist meets with Shannon Kinnan, MD, Psychiatrist, to review the patient’s case. Dr. Kinnan then provides psychiatric advice to the therapist and primary care clinician who take the feedback back to the patient to adjust their care plan as needed.
“This model maximizes our psychiatric services and allows me to give input on a lot of cases, which helps solve the problem of having more patients in need of psychiatric care than clinicians available,” said Dr. Kinnan.
In 2020, the University of Washington began the Collaborating to Heal Addiction and Mental Health in Primacy Care (CHAMP) study, researching the effectiveness of treating people with Opioid Use Disorder using the AIMS model. OneWorld was selected as one of the 24 research sites for this three-year-study.
Along with Dr. Kinnan, OneWorld Behavioral Health Therapists, Genevieve Sanchez-Hidalgo, LIMHP, Longfellow Marquez, LIMHP, LMHP, and Kelly Dorfmeyer, LIMHP, Physician Assistant, Bethany Levy, MPAS, PA-C, and Family Medicine & Psychiatry Nurse Practitioner, Ian Mitchell, APRN, received official training for the CHAMP model. Family Medicine Physicians, Kris McVea, MD, MPH, and Alex Dworak, MD, assisted with the model set up at OneWorld.
Throughout the study, OneWorld screened 83 patients and enrolled 34 patients. OneWorld enrolled patients who were in the Medication-Assisted Treatment program.
“Traditionally, one of the challenges with substance use treatment is isolated care,” said Dr. Kinnan. “Many places only focus on substance abuse, so patients miss a large part of the medical care and the psychiatry aspect. Our program gives patients greater access to services all in one location.”
Throughout the duration of the study, the OneWorld clinicians attended trainings with addiction psychiatry specialists. Dr. Kinnan said this training was vital, especially as fentanyl use became more common.
After the CHAMP study concluded in 2023, the OneWorld Behavioral Health team decided to continue to treat substance use disorders of all kinds through the AIMS program.
“This study helped our patients access quality mental health and substance abuse care at OneWorld, and also helped OneWorld increase knowledge and contribute to vital research to address the national mental health crisis and the opioid abuse crisis,” said Dr. Kinnan. “As a leader for this model of care in the state of Nebraska, we are now able to help other health care facilities apply this model of care, helping to further increase access.”
Dr. Kinnan also maintains her membership to the American Psychiatric Association and is the 2024 chair of the integrative care committee.
“We are all-around leaders in this model of care,” said Dr. Kinnan.
In addition to Collaborative Care, OneWorld continues to provide Medication-Assisted Treatment and recently introduced traditional behavioral health therapy as a primary care intervention for individuals struggling with their mental health.
