A new and transformative partnership has been formed between TeamHealth, a Knoxville-based physician-led practice, and Array Behavioral Care, a virtual psychiatry and therapy practice headquartered in Chicago. This collaboration aims to enhance mental health support within emergency departments across the nation. By streamlining the provision of emergency mental health care, these innovations integrate specialized telepsychiatric services with the on-site expertise of TeamHealth clinicians, setting a new standard for patient care in crises.
Partnership Objectives and Structure
Streamlining Mental Health Care
The crux of this partnership is to provide efficient emergency mental health care. TeamHealth clinicians, positioned in emergency departments, will connect patients with behavioral health needs to Array psychiatrists via virtual consultations. This integration ensures that patients receive prompt and precise evaluations, treatment plans, and disposition recommendations. As a result, the overall patient experience during mental health crises is improved, addressing the urgent needs of individuals who might otherwise face prolonged waits and inadequate care.
The collaboration aims to position virtual psychiatry seamlessly within the fast-paced environment of emergency departments. When a patient presents with behavioral health concerns, on-site clinicians can promptly initiate a telepsychiatric consultation with an Array psychiatrist. This timely access to specialized care not only accelerates the patient’s evaluation process but also provides the necessary treatment or therapy without the delays commonly experienced in traditional settings.
Impact on Emergency Departments
Dr. Jody Crane, Chief Medical Officer of TeamHealth, underscores the significant relief this partnership will bring to emergency department resources. The rise in mental health-related emergency visits has placed immense strain on emergency facilities, contributing to overcrowded conditions and overextended medical staff. Through the collaboration with Array Behavioral Care, emergency departments can alleviate these pressures by integrating telepsychiatric services to manage behavioral health cases more effectively.
Additionally, this approach offers numerous benefits for patient outcomes. Swift access to specialized care helps in early intervention and reduces the likelihood of complications that can arise from delayed treatment. Furthermore, the enhanced support system for the emergency department clinicians contributes to reduced stress levels and improved job satisfaction. By streamlining care processes, the partnership not only benefits patients but also bolsters the well-being and efficiency of the medical staff, enabling them to better manage their overall caseload.
TeamHealth and Array Behavioral Care Profiles
TeamHealth’s Extensive Network
TeamHealth boasts a vast network of 19,000 affiliated physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and operational team members. The organization collaborates with over 2,500 acute care hospitals and post-acute facilities, with a strong emphasis on emergency medicine. This expansive infrastructure positions TeamHealth well to adopt and implement this new model of mental health care, making it a vital link in elevating emergency services across various healthcare institutions.
The scale and reach of TeamHealth’s network are instrumental in disseminating the benefits of this partnership nationwide. By leveraging its extensive affiliations and expertise, TeamHealth can ensure that the integration of Array’s telepsychiatric services is executed efficiently. This systemic approach offers a substantial advantage in addressing the mental health care needs of patients, particularly in emergency settings where timely intervention is crucial.
Array Behavioral Care’s Expertise
Array Behavioral Care brings more than 25 years of experience in evidence-based virtual psychiatry and therapy services. Array partners with various healthcare entities to offer comprehensive psychiatric and therapy services. Array’s long-standing commitment to quality and innovation in virtual care positions it uniquely to provide essential support within emergency department settings, ensuring patients receive the care they need, when they need it most.
Array’s expertise is further augmented by its evidence-based model and sophisticated technology infrastructure. The ability to integrate seamlessly with existing Electronic Health Records (EHR) and Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) systems enhances clinical decision-making and ensures thorough documentation. This precision and commitment to quality care are crucial for maintaining high standards in the emergency departments where Array psychiatrists will operate as extensions of TeamHealth’s on-site clinicians.
Integration Process and Operational Efficiency
Seamless Virtual Consultations
One of the key operational aspects of the partnership is the seamless integration of Array’s telepsychiatric services into TeamHealth’s emergency departments. Array psychiatrists will function as an extension of the on-site team, performing timely consults, thorough evaluations, and meticulous documentation. This approach ensures continuity and accuracy within existing Electronic Health Records (EHR) and Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) systems, facilitating a smooth and efficient care process that benefits both patients and clinicians.
The operational model adopted in this partnership prioritizes high levels of coordination and communication between TeamHealth’s on-site clinicians and Array’s virtual psychiatrists. This collaborative approach enables real-time consults and thorough evaluations, ensuring that each patient receives comprehensive care without compromise. Documentation within familiar EHR and CPOE systems ensures that all aspects of patient care are promptly and accurately recorded, enhancing decision-making and risk mitigation in emergency settings.
Enhancing Patient Flow
Dr. Sara Gotheridge, Chief Medical Officer of Array Behavioral Care, highlights the extended wait times that patients in crisis face in emergency departments. She stresses that this partnership aims to reduce these waiting periods, thus streamlining the treatment process. The collaboration endeavors to enhance patient flow, ultimately leading to better clinical outcomes and reduced clinician workloads, emphasizing the importance of prompt, specialized care for patients experiencing mental health crises.
Improving patient flow is a critical component of the partnership’s goals. By facilitating immediate access to psychiatric consultations and evaluations, the collaboration can significantly reduce the bottlenecks typically experienced in emergency departments. This expedited process ensures that patients in need of mental health support are promptly addressed, thereby enhancing overall department efficiency and ensuring that resources are optimized for comprehensive and effective patient care.
Goals and Future Directions
Reducing Preventable Utilization and Readmissions
While financial details remain undisclosed, both companies are optimistic about the partnership’s potential to reduce preventable emergency department utilization and unnecessary readmissions. The goal is to connect patients to suitable community or home-based care, ensuring they receive expert evaluation, compassionate crisis stabilization, and clearly defined care pathways. By providing targeted interventions, the collaboration seeks to create a sustainable model that supports long-term patient well-being and more efficient use of healthcare resources.
The emphasis on reducing preventable utilization and readmissions addresses systemic challenges within emergency care environments. By closely monitoring patient progress and facilitating smooth transitions to community or home-based care, the partnership aims to foster continuity and stability in mental health treatment. This proactive approach, focusing on effective care pathways, promotes sustained recovery and diminishes the likelihood of recurrent emergency visits, benefitting both patients and the healthcare system at large.
Supporting Emergency Department Clinicians
This partnership will also significantly benefit emergency department clinicians who face immense pressure in managing their caseloads. By facilitating timely psychiatric consultations and evaluations, the collaboration aims to alleviate some of the burdens on these clinicians, enabling them to deliver higher-quality care to all patients. The improved support structure allows clinicians to focus on their core responsibilities, enhancing both job satisfaction and patient outcomes, and fostering a more effective and resilient emergency care environment.
In addition to alleviating clinician workloads, the partnership emphasizes continuous professional support and development. By working alongside virtual psychiatrists, clinicians can benefit from specialized insights and collaborative care strategies. This synergy not only enhances individual clinician expertise but also strengthens the overall capacity of emergency departments to manage complex mental health cases efficiently, reflecting a holistic approach to addressing the evolving demands of emergency healthcare.
Improved Care and Efficiency
TeamHealth, a Knoxville-based practice led by physicians, has entered into an innovative partnership with Array Behavioral Care, a virtual psychiatry and therapy practice based in Chicago. This collaboration seeks to bolster mental health support within emergency departments nationwide. The integration of specialized telepsychiatric services provided by Array Behavioral Care with the on-site clinical expertise of TeamHealth clinicians aims to streamline and enhance the delivery of emergency mental health care.
These services can potentially improve patient outcomes by offering immediate access to mental health professionals during crises, ensuring that patients receive timely and appropriate care. Furthermore, this partnership is poised to set a new standard for emergency mental health treatment by combining the strengths of virtual care with hands-on, in-person expertise. Such a model could serve as a blueprint for other healthcare systems aiming to improve mental health support in emergency settings, ultimately contributing to better overall patient care across the nation.
