This is part two of a 2-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.
In the first blog of this series that covered our first roundtable session with clinical leaders from Academic Medical Centers (AMC) around the nation, we discussed the success of North Carolina’s Statewide Telepsychiatry Program (NC-STeP), which has saved the state more than $57 million with the leadership of the state’s key Academic Medical Center and health agency leaders in the state. The program’s remarkable results have set the stage for its expansion nationwide.
In this second installment, we turn our attention to a roundtable attended by state health agency leaders from across the U.S., who gathered to discuss how they can replicate North Carolina’s telepsychiatry model in their own states.
Building a Telepsychiatry Ecosystem: A Collaborative Approach
A key takeaway from this roundtable was the need for collaboration and buy-in from a range of key stakeholders in each state to ensure the successful implementation of a program of this scale. These included:
- Funding Sources: State legislative appropriations, private foundations, and federal programs play a crucial role in securing initial pilot and ongoing sustainment funding.
- State Offices: State offices like the Department of Mental Health or State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) can provide the necessary oversight and regulatory support.
- Program Administrators: Academic medical centers and clinical service providers are essential in managing and delivering telepsychiatry services.
- Technology Providers: With a proven platform like the one used in North Carolina, ViTel Net’s vCare Command, can offer the flexibility and scalability required for successful telepsychiatry expansion.
The NC-STeP model highlights the power of aligning key stakeholders in ensuring the program’s sustainability and impact.
Starting Small and Scaling Up
Our discussion also emphasized the value of starting small to build momentum. Pilot programs—like the one led by Dr. Saeed at ECU prior to the full-scale launch of NC-STeP—serve as critical proof points. By rolling out telepsychiatry in select hospitals, states can gather real-world data on clinical impact and cost savings. These early efforts not only demonstrate return on investment but also help identify and resolve potential challenges upfront, laying the groundwork for successful statewide expansion.
North Carolina’s initial pilot with one hospital yielded over $100,000 in savings in just one year, and helped lay the groundwork for future expansion approval.
Leverage NC-STeP Data for Funding
A key piece of advice generated from the roundtable was leveraging NC-STeP’s data to secure funding for telepsychiatry programs. The success of NC-STeP has been well documented to support cost savings, improved patient care, and reduced ED overcrowding. States can use this data to demonstrate to legislators the tangible benefits of telepsychiatry, both in terms of financial savings and improved access to mental health services.
State Objectives: Hearing from the Experts
The roundtable included representatives from multiple states, each of which is exploring ways to implement telepsychiatry to address their unique challenges. Some notable highlights include:
- North Carolina: NC-STeP currently supports 28 hospitals and 24 community sites, and has had nearly a third more sites before they “graduated” from the program – meaning the local staff was sufficiently trained on how to handle the most common psychiatric conditions that they no longer required NC-STeP support. The state has seen significant savings, including $57 million from avoided unnecessary hospitalizations and a 17% reduction in transfers to psychiatric hospitals.
- Kentucky: Kentucky’s rural health leaders are interested in using telepsychiatry to overcome the shortage of mental health professionals in their state. They are focused on creating partnerships with local hospitals and academic centers to develop a sustainable model.
- Ohio: Ohio is exploring how telepsychiatry can integrate with existing statewide mental health programs to improve access for underserved populations.
- Texas and South Dakota: These states are interested in developing programs that reach both rural health departments and primary care clinics, ensuring that telepsychiatry is available early in the mental health care continuum.
The Path Forward
The roundtable concluded with a strong sense of optimism about the future of telepsychiatry, state by state. By collaborating across state lines and learning from North Carolina’s experience, legislators and healthcare leaders are poised to tackle the mental health crisis in their own states.
Key Steps for Replication
- Identify Stakeholders: Engage a diverse group of stakeholders, including legislators, potential program administrators, healthcare providers, and technology partners.
- Start Small: Launch pilot programs to gather data and demonstrate the program’s effectiveness.
- Secure Funding: Leverage data from NC-STeP and other successful models to secure initial funding and ensure sustainability.
- Develop Infrastructure: Work with technology partners like ViTel Net to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place for telepsychiatry services to be delivered effectively and at scale.
With the groundwork laid by NC-STeP, the path to expanding telepsychiatry programs across the U.S. is becoming more clear. States now have a roadmap to follow, and with the right partnerships and direction, they can start making a real impact in increasing access to mental health care in their states.
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
