# Implementation of Digital Mental Health Tools in Ambulatory Care Coordination

> **NIH AHRQ R01** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $361,766

## Abstract

Care coordination services have been developed to provide safer and more effective care for patients who
have difficulty managing their healthcare. The role of care managers (CMs) working in care coordination is
intended to take a holistic view of patients and to improve healthcare system efficiency, yet there remain
several gaps in the efficiency of this work. CMs often struggle to find resources for their patients, particularly in
the realm of depression management. Resources are limited, waitlists for services are long, and many patients
are hesitant to seek mental health care. Our research group has developed a productive partnership with the
Ambulatory Care Coordination service at Northwestern Medicine – a large integrated delivery system of more
than 3,500 physicians, serving 1 million patients. Currently CMs, primarily nurses by training, provide remote
coordination services to patients who typically have multiple physical and mental health conditions. They report
abundant challenges in supporting patients with depression. A digital mental health intervention packaged
within a patient management system for depression would fill the need for depression management resources
and fit into CM work. The overarching aim of the proposed project is to adapt and implement a digital mental
health intervention to improve access to and coordination of mental health services in Ambulatory Care
Coordination. Specifically, this study aims to: 1) adapt a digital mental health platform and service model to
address implementation barriers within care coordination, 2) develop and subsequently optimize a
multicomponent implementation strategy, and 3) conduct a randomized rollout effectiveness-implementation
trial of the digital mental health platform and a sustainment pilot period in the 4 regional teams of the
Ambulatory Care Coordination service. Data gathered throughout this project will be used to develop an
implementation guide, capable of being used by other for healthcare systems as they expand their mental
health service offerings to provide holistic support for patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10390349
- **Project number:** 5R01HS028003-02
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Andrea Kass Graham
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** AHRQ
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $361,766
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10390349

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10390349, Implementation of Digital Mental Health Tools in Ambulatory Care Coordination (5R01HS028003-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10390349. Licensed CC0.

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