K, C.M., Kelly, R., Catherine, D., Jennifer, B., Emily, F., Caren, G., Michael, J., D, M.A., Veronica, Z., Sara, P., Kurt, S., Stephanie, S., G, O.R., & R, C.J. (2026). Developing the multidisciplinary M-COPE Psychosocial Program in a paediatric heart centre.. Cardiology in the young. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1047951126111512
K CM, Kelly R, Catherine D, Jennifer B, Emily F, Caren G, et al. Developing the multidisciplinary M-COPE Psychosocial Program in a paediatric heart centre.. Cardiology in the young. 2026; doi: 10.1017/S1047951126111512
K CM, Kelly R, Catherine D, et al. Developing the multidisciplinary M-COPE Psychosocial Program in a paediatric heart centre.[J]. Cardiology in the young. 2026. DOI: 10.1017/S1047951126111512.
@article{k2026,
author = {Cousino Melissa K and Rea Kelly and Dusing Catherine and Butcher Jennifer and Fredericks Emily and Goldberg Caren and Joynt Michael and McCormick Amanda D and Zitterman Veronica and Pasquali Sara and Schumacher Kurt and Stoll Stephanie and Ohye Richard G and Charpie John R},
title = {Developing the multidisciplinary M-COPE Psychosocial Program in a paediatric heart centre.},
journal = {Cardiology in the young},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1017/S1047951126111512},
note = {PMID: 41703939},
}
TY - JOUR AU - Cousino Melissa K AU - Rea Kelly AU - Dusing Catherine AU - Butcher Jennifer AU - Fredericks Emily AU - Goldberg Caren AU - Joynt Michael AU - McCormick Amanda D AU - Zitterman Veronica AU - Pasquali Sara AU - Schumacher Kurt AU - Stoll Stephanie AU - Ohye Richard G AU - Charpie John R TI - Developing the multidisciplinary M-COPE Psychosocial Program in a paediatric heart centre. T2 - Cardiology in the young PY - 2026 DO - 10.1017/S1047951126111512 AN - PMID:41703939 ER -
BACKGROUND: Given the high prevalence of mental health challenges, the field of paediatric cardiology has increasingly recognised the need for integrated and embedded psychosocial programming in cardiology care. In response to this, the University of Michigan Congenital Heart Centre Psychosocial and Educational (M-COPE) Program was established in January 2020. This paper aims to describe the development, current structure, preliminary outcomes, and future directions of the M-COPE Program to inform similar programme development efforts. METHODS: Informed by a comprehensive needs assessment (group/individual interviews, patient surveys), the M-COPE Program mission centres on expanding (1) psychosocial clinical services, (2) psychosocial research, (3) mental health training for all learners, and (4) advocacy for improved psychosocial care for paediatric cardiology patients and families. RESULTS: In its first five years, the M-COPE Program has expanded access to mental health care by increasing the number of psychosocial clinicians, embedding psychology/perinatal psychiatry in select cardiology clinics, and developing novel modes of service delivery through collaborative efforts across our multidisciplinary teams. Training initiatives have included the development of cardiac psychology fellowships and a mental health curriculum for cardiology physician fellows. Research is foundational to the programme, ranging from federally funded research to centre-specific quality improvement projects. DISCUSSION: The M-COPE Program has become foundational to our heart centre. Future directions include enhancing psychosocial care at home for patients/caregivers, integration of a perinatal psychiatrist, and wider-scale launch of novel patient-focused initiatives. Continued study of programme impact will be ongoing with key metrics including referral patterns and patient/family outcomes.