Development and launch of a regional learning network to improve physical and mental health outcomes

Abstract

Background

Care gaps in routine and preventive care are common among youth. To close care gaps, health systems should take a population health approach and create opportunities for partnership, collaboration, shared learning, and scale via learning networks (LNs).

Methods

We describe the Pediatric Improvement Network for Quality (PINQ), a regional population health LN with the aim of closing well-child and mental and behavioral health (MBH) care gaps. We initially launched PINQ with 2 primary care domains: well-child care (WCC) and MBH and later added the third domain of PINQ focused on community MBH organizations. We defined measures for the primary care WCC (well-child visits for infants 0–15 months; lead screening by 2 years of age, childhood immunization status 3 completion) and MBH domains (depression screening in youth 12–17 years, 30-day follow-up for positive depression screen, mental health emergency department utilization) and established system-level key drivers.

Results

PINQ launched in September 2022 with 7 teams (5 in primary care WCC and 2 in primary care MBH domains, respectively). All teams participate in a monthly meeting that alternates between the Action Period call and Solutions Labs. We highlight two case studies that illustrate the impact of shared learning and quality improvement support on Improvement Team efforts.

Conclusion

We foresee PINQ as a means of moving the needle toward high quality, comprehensive health care for Greater Cincinnati youth. The next steps include growing PINQ by adding Improvement Teams and expanding the network focus to include other primary care-centric metrics and conditions.