Researchers from the University of Cincinnati and Ohio State University found that adults with developmental disabilities who receive integrated care are less likely to go to the emergency room or be hospitalized than those who do not.
Published in Disability and Health Journal, Their study found that adults with developmental disabilities may be better served by integrated care health centers that include physical and mental health services.
This retrospective cross-sectional study examined the inpatient and outpatient encounters of 6,706 adults with developmental disabilities who were patients in two models of care provided at the University of Cincinnati and its affiliated academic health system, UC Health, from 2022 to 2023.
Researchers found that adults with developmental disabilities engaged in an integrated model of psychiatry and primary care were 50% less likely to visit the emergency department and 38% less likely to require hospitalization for any cause. According to the study, patients were 72% less likely to be referred to a psychiatric emergency department when they used an integrated care model.
Patients in the study were seen either at the University of Cincinnati’s Dr. Timothy Freeman Developmental Disabilities Center, which provides integrated primary health care and behavioral health care, or at the University of Cincinnati/UC Health Mood Disorders Center, which provides psychiatric services using a traditional model of care.
“We’re trying to find better and more effective ways to provide care to adults with disabilities, many of whom are moving out of the pediatric health care system,” explains Corey Keaton, associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience. “The adult health care system is very different from the pediatric health care system and has much more limited resources.”
Dr. Keaton, a co-author of the study, said he and the other psychiatrists who participated in the study followed patients at both the Freeman Center and the Mood Disorders Center, so patients were able to participate in both care delivery models. Looking to the future and further advancements in care, the Freeman Center celebrated the grand reopening of its new 15,000 square foot expansion in September 2025.
“Our vision for the Freeman Center is to create an environment where adults with disabilities can be provided with the support they need to address their mental and physical health. We aim to create a true level of integrated services that meet the unique needs of our community,” Keaton said.
“We want our patients to feel supported within and outside of the four walls of our office. Our team works to provide our patients with a comprehensive range of services, including primary care, psychiatric medication management, psychological testing, behavioral health care management, counseling, behavioral intervention support, and community navigation.
“Having all of these services within one clinic really opens up the possibility for collaboration between health care providers, health professionals, and community organizations. This collaboration has allowed our patients to succeed and thrive,” Corey added. “Creating a space where patients can access multiple specialty services within one location helps reduce barriers to care. Patients can schedule an appointment with their primary care provider for an annual checkup, see a psychiatrist for medication adjustments, and receive weekly therapy sessions all in one center visit.
“My hope is that more places will consider using integrated care models to serve adults with disabilities,” Keaton says. “We want the Freeman Center to serve as an example of how things can be, and we want to support those working in more traditional models, which is essential to improving access to care.”
Dr. Daniel Gilmore, a postdoctoral fellow at The Ohio State University, was the lead author of the study in the Journal of Disability and Health.
“These findings are exciting and suggest the potential for integrated care to support the physical and mental health of adults with developmental disabilities,” Gilmore says. “However, this study was cross-sectional, and much work remains to more thoroughly understand the relationship between integrated care and service utilization.”
Other study co-authors include Emily Johnson, MD; Aurora Rivendale, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of California; Lauren Wing, MD, associate professor of family medicine at the University of California and medical director of the Timothy Freeman Center.
Other co-authors include Dr. Susan Harcamp, professor of psychiatry and behavioral health at The Ohio State University. Dr. Lindy Weaver, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, The Ohio State University. Ingrid Adams, professor of medical nutrition at The Ohio State University; Dr. Brittany Hand, associate professor of internal medicine at The Ohio State University;
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DOI: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2026.102079
