Adolescence is a critical period of development and growth in which young people experience rapid physical, mental, and social changes that can have a profound impact on their health. Adolescents may develop behavioral health conditions or engage in risky behaviors, such as drug use, that can negatively impact their health and quality of life. In addition, adolescents have unique developmental challenges that can impact their ability to access services, receive high-quality care, and achieve healthy outcomes.
Many adolescent health service providers work in silos that are ill-equipped to address the range of adolescent wellness needs. Coordinated physical and behavioral health care, including screenings and referrals to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, can improve adolescent health and outcomes. However, these more comprehensive approaches can be challenging to implement. In some states, federal waivers are available to remove barriers that prevent coordination across silos, but these require formal review and approval processes and negotiation with the Centers for Adolescent Care Services.
1. Link payment incentives to adolescent health visits
Providers and families can benefit from enhanced adolescent care by linking payments to adolescent wellness visits. These visits offer a chance for providers to build rapport with adolescents and their families and provide opportunities to discuss health-related behaviors and concerns. These meetings can also help adolescents develop the confidence they need to make positive health choices and avoid negative ones.
2. Improve rapport between providers and patients
The ability of adolescent care providers to build rapport with their patients is critical for improving the overall quality of adolescent care. This is especially true when addressing adolescent concerns that may be culturally taboo. In order to improve this relationship, it is important for providers to understand their patients’ concerns and build trust with them through communication, openness, and transparency. Using patient surveys, providers could measure the level of rapport they have with their patients. Those providers with the highest ratings on these metrics would be most likely to receive financial incentives for adolescent wellness visits.
3. Promote multidisciplinary and integrated care
Incorporating adolescent-focused physicians into primary care teams could improve adolescent health outcomes by promoting coordinated care among adolescents and their family members. These physicians could also be able to better assess adolescent mental health and substance use, which are known to be associated with poor outcomes in adulthood.
4. Incentivize providers to assess and address adolescents’ behavioral health and HRSN
Screenings to assess adolescents’ HRSN, such as those for depression and suicidal behavior, are a critical part of adolescent care. These screenings can identify adolescents who may be at risk for suicide, and they can also help identify early warning signs of mental health problems. At Meridian HealthCare, you can get the best Adolescent Care Services.
5. Pool money from different sources to support adolescent wellness
Adolescents need care that is accessible, affordable, and comprehensive. This means that they need a full range of services, including screenings and referrals to substance abuse treatment, mental health, and HIV/AIDS care. These services should be delivered by a team of health care professionals with specialized training in adolescent care, as well as by parents or guardians who are engaged and empowered to play a role in their child’s wellness. Check out this post that has expounded more on this topic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolescent_medicine.