This is part one of a two-part blog series covering two roundtable sessions that were hosted by ViTel Net to explore North Carolina’s innovative telepsychiatry program, which is now ready to be replicated across the United States. This first roundtable session was attended by clinical leaders from Academic Medical Centers throughout the country.
Addressing the Mental Health Crisis with Telepsychiatry
In the face of a growing mental health crisis, North Carolina’s Statewide TelePsychiatry Program (NC-STeP) stands as a proven model for providing psychiatric care to underserved emergency departments (EDs). ViTel Net recently hosted a roundtable discussion with clinical leaders from across the country, where together we examined the success and scalability of NC-STeP and its potential to address behavioral health challenges nationwide.
Key Program Insights
The NC-STeP initiative has achieved impressive results since its inception. With over 63,000 psychiatry assessments and $57 million in savings from reducing unnecessary hospitalizations, the program has demonstrated significant impact.
- Widespread Adoption: NC-STeP is live in 28 hospitals, expanding its reach throughout rural communities.
- Partner Collaboration: The program utilizes a robust network of 23 consultant providers and three clinical hubs to deliver efficient care.
By centralizing patient data through a multi-EHR integrated web portal, the program streamlines referrals and improves collaboration among healthcare providers.
Securing Funding and Demonstrating Impact
NC-STeP’s sustainability was initially secured through grant funding. Its continued success has allowed it to become a line item in the state budget, resulting in reduced resource strain on sheriff departments and Medicaid savings. Dr. Saeed Ryan, who was instrumental in forming the NC-STeP program, emphasized that hospitals should reinvest program savings into their own infrastructure to ensure the program’s long-term success.
Addressing Challenges: Staffing and Technology
One of the challenges discussed during the roundtable was the ongoing shortage of behavioral health providers. Dr. Saeed’s team overcame this by implementing a subcontracting approach and collaborating with service partners to bridge gaps in care.
Regarding technology, NC-STeP has avoided the pitfalls of standardizing equipment, focusing instead on providing flexible solutions that evolve with technological advancements. Hospitals are encouraged to use their existing infrastructure, such as mobile devices, while ensuring seamless integration with ViTel Net’s platform.
The Future of Telepsychiatry
As AI continues to develop in the healthcare sector, participants discussed its potential role in telepsychiatry. While there is interest in AI’s capabilities, experts agreed that a cautious approach is necessary as the technology is still evolving.
Closing Thoughts: A Call for Collaboration
As the discussion concluded, the group acknowledged the importance of collaboration in tackling the national mental health crisis. The NC-STeP program has proven to be a scalable and adaptable model, offering a pathway for other states to replicate its success.
Stay tuned for Part Two of this series, where we’ll get perspectives from state legislative representatives from more than five different states who attended our second roundtable session.
About ViTel Net
ViTel Net has been leading telehealth innovation for over 30 years with industry leading technology. Its robust cloud platform streamlines clinical and operational workflows while providing clinicians access to all patient data with a single sign-on. ViTel Net’s “no code” configurable user experience enables the flexibility needed to provide care, quickly and cost effectively. The results – informed decisions that power greater efficiency, for better patient experiences and outcomes across the care continuum. www.vitelnet.com
