title: The BRIGHTEN program: implementation and evaluation of a program to bridge resources of an interdisciplinary geriatric health team via electronic networking.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the feasibility of the BRIGHTEN Program (Bridging Resources of an Interdisciplinary Geriatric Health Team via Electronic Networking), an interdisciplinary team intervention for assessing and treating older adults for depression in outpatient primary and specialty medical clinics. The BRIGHTEN team collaborates "virtually" to review patient assessment results, develop a treatment plan, and refer to appropriate team members for follow-up care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Older adults in 9 academic medical center clinics and 2 community-based clinics completed screening forms for symptoms of depression and anxiety. Those with positive screens engaged in comprehensive assessment with the BRIGHTEN Program Coordinator; the BRIGHTEN virtual team provided treatment recommendations based on the results of assessment. A collaborative treatment plan was developed with each participant, who was then connected to appropriate services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two thousand four hundred twenty-two older adults were screened in participating clinics over a 40-month period. Eight hundred fifty-nine older adults screened positive, and 150 elected to enroll in BRIGHTEN. From baseline to 6 months, significant improvements were found in depression symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale, p < .01) and general mental health (SF-12 Mental Component, p < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BRIGHTEN Program demonstrated that an interdisciplinary virtual team linked with outpatient medical clinics can be an effective, nonthreatening, and seamless approach to enable older adults to access treatment for depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, 710 S. Paulina Street, Suite 431, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. erin_emery@rush.edu
authors.forename: Erin E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Emery
authors.forename: Stan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lapidos
authors.forename: Amy R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Eisenstein
authors.forename: Iulia I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Ivan
authors.forename: Robyn L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Golden
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000458:organization & administration; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires