The Collaborative Care Model (CoCM)

The Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) was developed in the 1990s at the University of Washington. As opposed to having patients go to each of their healthcare providers on individual levels, it encourages workers to collaborate as a team and establish the best route of treatment for patients. Not only has it been shown to be highly effective with over 90 randomized control trials proving its efficacy, but it is also a cost-reductive model with a 6:1 return on investment.

Curious about how it works?

The patient is at the center of collaborative care, and they will work with their Treating Provider (either a Primary Care Provider or a Specialty Provider) alongside a behavioral healthcare manager (BHCM), and a Psychiatric Consultant (PC). All of these providers remain in regular contact with one another to ensure the best form of treatment for the patient that meets their goals.

There are five main components in CoCM:

1. Patient-Centered Team Care: CoCM focuses on implementing a treatment plan that is patient-led and considers their goals. Research shows that the more a patient is engaged in their treatment, the more likely their outcomes are to improve.
2. Population-Based Care: The treatment team uses a systematic case review tool to track patients in the program. This tool ensures that no patient is left behind and allows for more patients to be treated than in a traditional referral model.
3. Measurement-Based Treatment to Target: Each patient receives a treatment plan customized specifically to their own goals and needs. Outcomes are regularly tracked through systematic case review, so if  a treatment approach is not working, providers can adjust until they find one that does.
4. Evidence-Based Care: Over 90 randomized controlled trials prove that collaborative care is highly effective for patients with mild to moderate mental health conditions and more effective than “usual care.”
5. Accountable Care: Providers are reimbursed based on the quality of their care, not just the number of people they treat. Patients can be sure that they have providers who care about their individual journeys. 

Want to learn more about this model of care?

Check out this short, informational video of CoCM, created by the American Psychiatric Association.