Kaiser to Offer Connected Health Apps as Patient Care Plans

Kaiser Permanente is integrating telehealth and connected health strategies in behavioral healthcare through digital therapeutic referrals from providers.

Physicians and therapists can now refer Kaiser Permanente patients to mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy apps through the organization’s electronic health record system at no additional cost. These mindfulness, meditation, and cognitive behavioral therapy apps have shown to be affective at alleviating symptoms of anxiety or depression.

A new case study published in the January 2021 issue of NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery shows that patients are more engaged in using mental health and wellness apps when referred by a clinician than if they had sought out the app on their own.

“What we’re tapping into is the existing relationship people have with their Kaiser Permanente therapist,” said Don Mordecai, MD, national leader for mental health and wellness at Kaiser Permanente. “We know that our patients are more likely to use these digital resources if their provider refers them.”

“Digital therapeutics such as mental health apps have a clear place in a care plan and it’s very exciting to be on the forefront of this,” Mordecai continued.

When the Kaiser Permanente began providing patients access to mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy apps in 2018, access was available only through their kp.org account. While Kaiser Permanente trained providers on app usage, workflow, documentation, and evidence-based best practices back in 2018 to encourage telehealth integration, the app referral effort has recently expanded to promote usage among patients.

Earlier this year, when Kaiser Permanente first began expanding their app referral effort, clinicians referred 44,000 mental health care patients to the digital tools. As the year comes to a close, data shows that app referrals have reached 115,000, and the number continues to rise.

Kaiser Permanente’s efforts to improve behavioral healthcare comes at an opportune time, as the prevalence of depression symptoms in adults has tripled since the onset of COVID-19. While Kaiser Permanente digital therapeutics do not replace treatment or clinical guidance, they provide additional support and guidance for the patient in her overall care plan.

“It’s been amazing to watch patients’ progress just by using the apps in between sessions,” said Leigh Miller, a Kaiser Permanente clinical social worker who offered feedback during early testing. “We found that these tools really enhanced how we support our patients’ mental health and we are thrilled to see the positive changes in our patients.”

The apps Kaiser Permanente offers include mindfulness and meditation apps such as Calm, Whil, and Headspace which are aimed at reducing anxiety and improving sleep. Providers can also refer patients to cognitive behavioral therapy apps like Thrive, SilverCloud, and mystrength, that provide guided support through interactive activities and coaching.

Calm and myStrength are available to members for free without a referral, while the other apps are only available for free with a provider recommendation.

“I suffer from anxiety. I cannot stop thinking,” said Kaiser Permanente member Rosa Salguero-Rodriguez. “So, I started using Calm. I practice the sessions like breathing and gratitude, and morning exercises and stretching. Now, I can relax more and sleep better.”

Kaiser Permanente’s focus on encouraging members to use digital therapeutic apps comes as part of its ongoing commitment to addressing the mental health and wellness needs of its members and communities through early intervention, personalized treatment, patient empowerment and support, and virtual care.

Anyone can access a range of mental health and wellness resources on kp.org, including articles, exercises, and videos. Members must be registered on the electronic health record system to access Calm and myStrength at kp.org/selfcareapps.