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Technology/Digital Health
Session Type:: Symposia

Symposium 37 - Implementing and Adapting Innovative Technology to Improve Mental Health, Substance Use, and Social Needs Screening and Referral to Treatment Tools Across Healthcare Settings

Saturday, November 22, 2025
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM CST
Location: Imperial 9, Level 4

Keywords: Telehealth/m-health, Integrated Care, Implementation
Recommended Readings: Shaw, J., Abejirinde, I. O. O., Agarwal, P., Shahid, S., & Martin, D. (2024). Digital health and equitable access to care. PLOS Digital Health, 3(9), e0000573. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000573,   Rubin, A., Livingston, N. A., Brady, J., Hocking, E., Bickmore, T., Sawdy, M., Kressin, N., Saitz, R., & Simon, S. (2022). Computerized relational agent to deliver alcohol brief intervention and referral to treatment in primary care: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 37(1), 70-77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-021-06945-9,   Lenert, L., Rheingold, A. A., Simpson, K. N., Scherbakov, D., Aiken, M., Hahn, C., McCauley, J. N., Ennis, J., & Diaz, V. A. (2024). Electronic health record–based screening for intimate partner violence: A cluster randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 7(8), e2425070-e2425070. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.25070,   Guille, C., King, C., King, K., Kruis, R., Ford, D., Maldonado, L., Nietert, P. J., Brady, K. T., & Newman, R. B. (2024). Text and telephone screening and referral improved detection and treatment of maternal mental health conditions. Health Affairs, 43(4), 548-556. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.01432,  

Abstract Body

Maternal morbidity and mortality rates are worse in the United States than any other developed country. Mental health conditions account for many preventable pregnancy-related deaths, with significant racial disparities driving these outcomes. Screening for mental health and unmet social determinants of health (SDOH) during pregnancy is recommended by professional organizations including ACOG and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Despite this, most will not be screened, and fewer will be connected with treatment. Because the conditions in which people live increase the risk of mental health disorders, challenges in accessing financial and social resources such as housing, transportation and food make it more likely a pregnant person will experience a mental health disorder and can exacerbate difficulties accessing care. A promising way to increase screening and bridge the gap between an identified need and agencies who provide services is to integrate mobile phone-based screening and treatment referral into routine obstetric care. Listening to Women and Pregnant and Postpartum People (LTWP) is a text/phone based program which leverages mobile technology and care coordinators to improve screening and referral to resources for mental health and SDOH needs for pregnant and postpartum people. The LTWP program utilizes brief screening via text message. If a positive screen is identified, the patient is contacted by a care coordinator via phone. LTWP has been shown to reduce the racial gap in positive mental health screens and access to treatment compared to treatment as usual.
Data is presented from patients enrolled into LTWP (N=2993) from January, 2021 through January, 2025 from obstetric clinics across South Carolina. Patients were mostly White (57.6%) or Black/African American (25.9%) with a mean age of 30 years (SD=5.74). Thirty percent (30.3%) of patients were Medicaid recipients. 220 (7.4%) patients screened positive for at least one SDOH need and 108 (3.6%) indicated multiple needs. Slightly more patients requested a care coordinator contact them for a SDOH need than screened positive (n=223). Less than 1% of patients requested only SDOH resources when contacted by a care coordinator, whereas most requested mental health resources, either alone or in addition to SDOH needs. All positive screens and followup are documented in the EHR by the care coordinator to facilitate communication across clinics. Data will be presented exploring the identities and needs of individuals who screened positive and were provided with resources.

Presentations:

  • 11:33 AM - 11:52 AM CST
    (SYM 37) Leveraging Relational Agents to Improve Substance Use Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment in Trauma Centers

    Speaker: Theresa Skojec, Ph.D. – Medical University of South Carolina

    Co-Author: Sara Witcraft, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Medical University of South Carolina

    Co-author: Ebonie Powell, MA – Medical University of South carolina

    Co-author: Sarah German, B.A. – Medical University of South Carolina

    Co-author: Timothy Bickmore, PhD – Northeastern University

    Co-author: Leigh Ridings, PhD – Medical University of South Carolina

    Co-author: Bruce Crookes, MD – Medical University Of South Carolina

    Co-author: Kenneth Ruggiero, PhD – Medical University of South Carolina

  • 11:52 AM - 12:11 PM CST
    (SYM 37) Examining Physician Responses to Positive Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Screening in Primary Care Using an Electronic Health Record Facilitated Confidential Encounter Template

    Speaker: Megan Wallace, LISW-CP – Medical University of South Carolina

    Co-Author: Jeffrey Pavlacic, Ph.D. – Medical University of South Carolina

    Co-author: Sara Witcraft, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Medical University of South Carolina

    Co-author: Christine Hahn, PhD – Medical University of South Carolina

    Co-author: Kit Simpson, DrPH – Medical University of South Carolina

    Co-author: Jenna McCauley, Ph.D. – Medical University of South Carolina

    Co-author: Vanessa Diaz, M.D. – Medical University of South Carolina

    Co-author: Leslie Lenert, M.S., M.D., FACMI – Medical University of South Carolina