Patients who reside in rural areas face persistent gaps in behavioral health care. Research shows that Collaborative Care (CoCM) can increase treatment access, but rural settings face unique barriers that make implementing CoCM challenging. Understanding these nuances is critical to successful implementation. The latest research from the AIMS Center offers insights into potential barriers and how to navigate them.
The September 2024 study, Understanding and Navigating the Unique Barriers Rural Primary Care Settings Face when Implementing Collaborative Care for Mental Health, followed 23 rural primary care clinics across Alaska and Washington state as the AIMS Center supported them through the CoCM implementation process, surveying them monthly about their experiences.
The most prominent barriers identified include the COVID-19 pandemic, limited site staff participation in implementation activities, and hiring new CoCM Staff. Clinics also reflected on factors that helped them succeed, highlighting PCP buy-in, strong clinical team communication, effective program management metrics, and using an effective registry (such as the AIMS Caseload Tracker).
The study’s findings offer new insights into the implementation experiences of clinics serving rural areas, demonstrating the impact different barriers and facilitators have on the overall Collaborative Care program success.