Table 2 EQUIP intervention components

   • Chronic illness care model aimed at lessening psychotic symptoms and medication side effects and increasing family/caregiver involvement in care

Delivery system interventions

   • Research nurse (RN) stationed at each of the clinics assessed every intervention patient at each visit.

   • Protocols for assertive, coordinated care.

   • Resources supporting evidence-based medication management and family services [37].

   • "Medical Informatics Network Tool" (MINT, [21]), an informatics system that collected and managed outcomes data in real time and worked in conjunction with the VA's fully electronic medical record.

   • MINT generated a window ("PopUp") each time an enrolled provider opened the electronic medical record of an intervention patient.

   • The PopUp window contained the RN's clinical assessment, with urgent issues highlighted. The PopUp provided links to treatment guidelines, and allowed for secure messaging among the clinical team members.

   • MINT produced Quality Reports to track data regarding the clinical status of the psychiatrist's patients in three domains: compliance and caregiver problems, symptoms, and medication side-effects.

   • Quality Reports were distributed quarterly by the research nurse to enrolled psychiatrists.

Adoption/implementation tools

   • Marketing of the care model via educational activities and trainings.

   • Partnerships with clinic personnel.

   • Product champions were nominated by the site PI mid-intervention. They were asked to promote the goals of the project during regular staff meetings.