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A pilot program for implementing mental health screening, assessment, and navigation in a community‐based cancer center

It is widely accepted that oncology patients experience multiple psychosocial issues, with many experiencing comorbid mental health diagnoses. The clinical “rule of thumb” is that roughly 25% experience a depressive illness at some point during the course of the disease. However, identifying and providing mental health treatment consistently within oncology remains elusive. This is highlighted through the finding that only 20% of NCCN member institutions screen all patients as their guidelines recommend. Treatment is also complicated by a shortage of mental health providers within medical settings. This results in potentially half of patients with diagnosable comorbid psychiatric conditions remaining untreated. Another observed difficulty is the lack of follow‐through with mental health referrals and/or assessment of intervention effectiveness. Anecdotally, although many patients report being “in treatment” (eg, pharmacotherapy and support groups), few receive measurement‐based care to assess treatment effectiveness, and comorbid psychiatric symptoms remain unremitted. Additionally, some providers defer patient mental health needs to social work and/or other mental health providers, despite the fact that oncologists frequently prescribe psychotropic medications. To fill this gap, the UT Southwestern Medical Center Moncrief Cancer Institute (UTSW MCI) expanded its standard of care to include an integrated and collaborative approach to this problem by implementing a mental health screening, assessment, and navigation