CINCINNATI — Researchers from the University of Cincinnati and Ohio State University published a study in the Disability and Health Journal showing that an integrated psychiatric and primary care model reduced emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and psychiatric referrals for adults with developmental disabilities. The research was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 6,706 adults with developmental disabilities between 2022 and 2023.

Patients receiving care through the integrated psychiatric and primary care model had 50 percent lower odds of emergency department visits compared to those in a traditional model. These patients also had 38 percent lower odds of hospitalization for all causes and 72 percent lower odds of referral to a psychiatric emergency department.

The study examined inpatient and outpatient encounters at two healthcare models operated by the university academic health system. The integrated care model was provided at the Timothy Freeman Center for Development Disabilities, while the traditional model was provided at the Mood Disorders Center.

Corey Keeton, associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, said, "We are trying to find a better and more effective way to provide care for adults with disabilities, many of whom are transitioning from the pediatric healthcare system." He added, "The adult healthcare system is very different from the pediatric system and is much more limited in terms of resources."

"Our vision with the Freeman Center is to build an environment that provides adults with disabilities the support they need to address their mental and physical health," Keeton said. "Our team works to provide wrap-around services for our patients, including primary care, psychiatric medication management, psychologic testing, behavioral health care management, counseling, behavioral intervention support, and community navigation." Keeton said, "With all those services within one clinic, it really opened the ability to collaborate between providers, medical professionals, and community organizations."

"Creating a space where patients have access to multiple specialized services within a single location works to mitigate barriers to care," Keeton said. "Patients have the opportunity to have an appointment with their primary care provider for their annual physical, see their psychiatric for medication adjustments, and have their weekly therapy session all within one visit to the center." The Freeman Center opened an expanded 15,000-square-foot facility in September 2025.

Daniel Gilmore, a postdoctoral scholar at Ohio State University and lead author of the study, said, "These findings are exciting and suggest the potential of integrated care to support the physical and mental health of adults with developmental disabilities." Gilmore said, "However, the study was cross-sectional, and much work remains to more thoroughly understand relationships between integrated care and service utilization." Emily Johnson, Aurora Rivendale, Lauren Wing, Susan Havercamp, Lindy Weaver, Ingrid Adams, and Brittany Hand also served as co-authors on the study.