College of Nursing
University of Nebraska Medical Center
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Mobile App Integration

Integrated Care is a unique systematic approach that enables access to mental health care to be improved through a team-based approach consisting of primary care providers, behavioral health providers, psychiatric consultants, and the patient.

However, despite how effective these systems can be, there are still challenges for meeting the needs of the underserved patients encountered in the primary care environment. To meet these needs, we have been exploring the feasibility of using mobile apps among the underserved. Notably, we have looked at provider perspectives, patient perspectives, workflows, and necessary digital navigation training related to mobile app use, along with developing foundational knowledge needed to use apps for conditions commonly encountered in primary care settings, including depression, anxiety, perinatal depression, and trauma.

 

Proposed Framework for Incorporating Mobile Apps into Integrated Care Environments:

Flowchart depicting a healthcare model with colorful nodes. Central "Mobile App Use" links to "PCP," "Patient," and providers, indicating integrated care and data engagement.

 © 2022 Emerson, Dinkel and Johnson. All rights are reserved. This work is provided solely for education of the recipient target audience and is not intended for anyone to copy, modify, reproduce, resell, redistribute or otherwise use without specific permission from the creator/owner.

Poster Presentations

Infographic titled 'E-Learning modules increased Behavioral Health Providers’ confidence in digital navigation skills.' It summarizes a study on digital navigation training for health providers, emphasizing improved digital literacy through mobile apps. The infographic includes sections on introduction, methods, results, and discussion, as well as QR codes for module access and results. Logos of Nebraska Medicine and University of Nebraska are visible.

 

Selected Citations

Johnson, D. J., Emerson, M. R., Dinkel, D., Thomas, R., Watanabe-Galloway, S., Mickles, M., Culjat, C. (Accepted December 2024).  App Assisted Depression Self-Management in Integrated Primary Care: Patient and Provider Experiences. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science.

Torous, J., Aquino, P., Emerson, M.R. & Fortuna, K. (2020). Actionable Health App Evaluation: Translating Expert Frameworks into Objective Metrics. NPJ Digital Medicine 3, article 100.  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-020 00312-41

Emerson, M.R., Watanabe-Galloway, S., Dinkel, D., Kotcherlakota, S., & Fok, L. (2020). Lessons Learned in Selection and Review of Depression Apps for Primary Care Settings. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-020-00156-5. +

Emerson, MR. Caspari-Harsh, J. Notice, M., Dinkel, D., & Kabayundo, J. (2021). Mental Health Mobile App Use: Considerations for Serving Underserved Patients in Integrated Primary Care Settings. General Hospital Psychiatry. 67-75. +

Dinkel, D.M., Caspari, J.H., Fok, L., Notice, M., Johnson, D.J., Watanabe-Galloway, S., & Emerson, M.R. (2021). A Qualitative Exploration of the Feasibility of Integrating Mental Health Apps into Integrated Primary Care Clinics. Translational Behavioral Medicine. 11(9), 1708-1716.+

Emerson, MR., Perret, S., Chinn, H., Alon, N., Watanabe-Galloway, S., Johnson, D., Dinkel, D., Torous, J. (2003). A systematic review and exploration of smartphone app interventions for perinatal depression with case study. Springer Current Treatment Option in Psychiatry. 10(5) doi: 10. 10.1007/s40501-023-00301-w

King, D., Emerson, MR., Tartaglia, J., Nanda, G., and Tatro, N. (2023). Methods for Navigating the Mobile Mental Health App Landscape for Clinical Use. Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry. Published online 5.24.23. DOI: 10.1007/s40501-023-00288-4