The Problem
Mental health conditions are prevalent in the communities served by the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Health Network, based in Milwaukee. However, they’re often unrecognized, under-addressed and under-treated – especially because of limited access to specialized mental healthcare.
In 2017, a multidisciplinary team at the health network began building a digital formulary to offer evidence-based tools, driven by high-quality software, to prevent, manage or treat a spectrum of physical, mental and behavioral conditions. This focus on digital therapeutics aimed to expand access, enabling the health network’s patients to manage their mental health beyond traditional healthcare settings.
Proposal
As the team began to assess options for digital CBT, Froedtert & MCW partnered with SilverCloud. SilverCloud provides education on CBT designed to help people develop skills to detect, challenge and then change their unhelpful thoughts, feelings or behaviors related to challenging situations, helping users improve both physical and mental health.
“The program allowed patients to be in charge of their mental health, giving them the access and tools they needed to increase their mental wellness,” said Dr. Bradley Crotty, chief digital officer at Froedtert & MCW and interim president of Inception Health, the innovation arm of Froedtert & MCW.
Meeting the Challenge
When SilverCloud launched at the health network, it immediately began to address some of the financial and scheduling concerns preventing patients from seeking relief.
“By offering the program at no cost to the patient, we were able to get resources into the hands of patients as soon as they told their providers there was a problem,” said Jay Burns, digital behavioral health coach at Froedtert & MCW.
Results
While mental health continues to be among the top health issues facing the health network’s communities, since launching the technology in 2017 more than 10,000 people have become members.
“Clinical improvement, measured by changes in PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores for depression and anxiety, respectively, showed statistically significant reductions,” Burns reported. “Patients with at least moderate depression experienced an average 23% reduction in PHQ-9 scores, while those with at least moderate anxiety showed a 26% reduction in GAD-7 scores.”
Advice for Others
Using a digital therapeutic tool can help patients get the right care they need, at the right time and in a manner that works best for them, Crotty said.
“It is important to complete a full market analysis when determining which tool to use, to ensure it’s the best tool and vendor for your organization and your patients,” he advised.
Conclusion
The health network has seen such great patient outcomes with the technology that it is working toward providing an uncoached, stress and resilience module available to community members who do not have a Froedtert & MCW provider. The health network has come a long way in providing mental health resources to its patients, and it hopes to continue to expand access to these resources in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How did the health network begin building a digital formulary?
A: The health network began building a digital formulary in 2017 to offer evidence-based tools to prevent, manage or treat a spectrum of physical, mental and behavioral conditions.
Q: Who did the health network partner with for digital CBT?
A: The health network partnered with SilverCloud for digital CBT, which provides education on CBT designed to help people develop skills to detect, challenge and then change their unhelpful thoughts, feelings or behaviors related to challenging situations.
Q: What were the results of the digital CBT program?
A: The results of the digital CBT program showed statistically significant reductions in PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores for depression and anxiety, respectively. Patients with at least moderate depression experienced an average 23% reduction in PHQ-9 scores, while those with at least moderate anxiety showed a 26% reduction in GAD-7 scores.
Q: What advice would you give to others considering implementing a digital therapeutic tool?
A: Crotty advised completing a full market analysis when determining which tool to use, to ensure it’s the best tool and vendor for your organization and your patients.
