A Successful Walk-In Psychiatric Model for Integrated Care

Area of Science:

• Integrated care models
• Psychiatric services delivery
• Health equity

Background:

• Primary care settings can improve access to psychiatric care.
• Walk-in psychiatry visits may benefit underserved populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess the sustainability of a walk-in psychiatry model in integrated care.
• Characterize patients utilizing this walk-in psychiatric service.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 811 psychiatry encounters over two years (2015-2017).
• Analysis of initial and return visit volumes.
• Comparison of demographics and diagnoses between walk-in and scheduled appointments.

Main Results:

• The walk-in model proved sustainable, with increased follow-up encounters.
• Medicaid recipients, those without college degrees, and Black or Hispanic individuals were more likely to use walk-in services.
• Single, divorced, or separated individuals also showed higher utilization of walk-in psychiatry.

Conclusions:

• Walk-in psychiatric care within integrated primary care is a sustainable model.
• This approach effectively reaches historically underserved patient groups.
• The walk-in option facilitates disproportionate access for vulnerable populations.