Connection Learning Health System (LHS): A Collaboration to Connect Early Psychosis Research and Practice in Maryland and Pennsylvania

Principal Investigator:

Melanie Bennett, PhD

Overview

Connection Learning Health System (Connection LHS) is based at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. It represents a collaboration of investigators in early psychosis services based at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine, the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and Sheppard Pratt, along with involvement of both states’ behavioral health systems. Connection LHS will use data to improve early psychosis services and to promote a culture of collaborative learning and continuous quality improvement across 22 programs delivering Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) for youth and young adults experiencing early psychosis and their families.

See the full list of LHS clinics

Smiling African American Mother and Daughter

Features

Connection LHS will implement data collection, analysis, feedback, and infrastructure development to promote continuous quality improvement across 22 well-established CSC programs in Maryland and Pennsylvania serving over 500 young adult clients per year in urban, suburban, and rural settings.
Our collaboration among clinicians and researchers will support identifying clinical challenges, analyzing relevant data, and applying findings to optimize practice and improve CSC implementation.
The programs that are part of Connection LHS deliver the elements of CSC within a framework of shared decision making, personalized and flexible services, and mental health recovery.
Connection LHS includes active involvement of two state behavioral health systems which will support examining strategies for cross-system implementation and generalizability. This has the potential to be impactful in our region and may provide a model for CSC programs in other neighboring states.
CSC programs collect common data elements from clients, family members, and clinicians that can be accessed via data visualization tools for use in planning and monitoring treatment goals over time.
Connection LHS is conducting practice-based research to implement a brief intervention that supports treatment engagement and medication adherence targeting CSC clients who are persistent cannabis users. This project will use qualitative research methods to integrate input from clients, family members, and clinicians as part of intervention refinement.
Connection LHS will harmonize CSC training and consultation activities across Maryland and Pennsylvania, adopt best practices from programs in each state, and develop new activities to fulfill unmet training and practice needs. We will use principles from implementation science to support broad adoption of effective practices across CSC programs.

Contact Information

Questions related to the EPINET project and Connection LHS:
Melanie Bennett
Principal Investigator
Mbennett@som.umaryland.edu
Brian Brandler
Connection LHS Coordinator
BBrandler@som.umaryland.edu
Connection LHS website

Questions related to CSC services in Maryland
Krissa Rouse and Caroline Silvia
Maryland Early Intervention Program Central Referral Line
(877) 277-MEIP (6347)
info@MarylandEIP.com
Maryland EIP websiteOpens a new tab

Questions related to CSC services in Pennsylvania:
Catherine “Cat” Conroy
Pennsylvania HeadsUp: Changing Minds, Empowering Lives
(215) 687-3429
headsuppaorg@gmail.com
Pennsylvania HeadsUp websiteOpens a new tab