BH Learning Collaborative #2 Focuses on Lessons Learned. In November 2016, MHVC’s first Behavioral Health Learning Collaborative set the stage for the challenges ahead, as participants shared concerns with their colleagues and learned techniques to help with problem-solving and work flows. By the time 98 participants met on June 8, 2017, for the second Behavioral Health Learning Collaborative, clinicians, case managers, administrators and others who work on behavioral health integration in either a behavioral health or primary care setting were “actively engaged in doing, trying, learning, and sharing,“ according to Marilyn Wolff-Diamond, Project Manager. “The excitement and passion were evident, from the interaction with the key speakers to the high level of participation in break-out sessions. Everyone was energized by the quality and quantity of work being done by their colleagues and by the opportunity to learn from each other.”

The program included panel discussions, featured speakers, and afternoon break-out sessions. National expert, Virna Little, PsyD, LCSW-r, SAP, MBA, CCM, gave an informative and engaging presentation on strategies for financial sustainability. Her message resonated with administrators, clinical staff, and physicians alike. It also helped care managers understand the impact of their services within the care team.

At the panel discussion, four sites talked about the work they are doing, followed by highly interactive discussions during which panelists and participants were able to learn from each other. Panelists included Access: Supports for Living, The Children’s Medical Group, Hudson River HealthCare (HRHCare) and Montefiore Medical Group – Cross County. HRHCare discussed how they implemented IMPACT into their Walden site (as detailed in the MHVC newsletter article here). Children’s Medical Group presented how they are evaluating children for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) using the Vanderbilt evidence-based tool for patient tracking and follow up.

The afternoon featured breakout sessions and team building. One of the most thought-provoking sessions was a high-level discussion of where all of this great work is going in the future. Dr. Henry Chung, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Montefiore’s Care Management Organization, addressed administrators on the financial realities of the next decade. The session on sharing best-practices of care managers was oversubscribed, reinforcing the theme of the session: the importance of learning from colleagues. The two behavioral health breakout sessions — one for psychiatrists and one for Article 31 clinics — also followed the “learning from each other” format.