North carolina’s
Statewide Telepsychiatry Model
Ready to be replicated with a proven blueprint for expanding access to mental health care
Our Mission
Today 1 in 5 adults is living with a mental health condition, yet nearly half of U.S. counties have no practicing psychiatrists—a fact that is disproportionately affecting our rural communities.
ViTel Net is on a mission to build coalitions across the country to address the ongoing mental health crisis on a state-by-state basis. In collaboration with the leadership behind North Carolina’s Statewide Telepsychiatry Program (NC-STeP), we’re working with State Offices of Rural Health, Academic Medical Centers, and Rural Health Associations to bring the right resources together to establish scalable, statewide telepsychiatry programs. By leveraging the proven formula for success of NC-STeP, we plan to help other states expand mental health access, reduce costs, and unlock sustainable funding opportunities—delivering real, measurable impact where it’s needed most.
The Model:
North Carolina’s Statewide Telepsychiatry Program
With ViTel Net as their technology and technical support partner, East Carolina University has developed a proven, replicable model for launching successful statewide telepsychiatry programs. This approach has delivered significant cost savings to the state while dramatically expanding access to mental health care—particularly in rural communities.
Built on best practices, operational and clinical frameworks, and funding strategies, this model provides a clear roadmap for other states to follow. With ongoing guidance from the leadership of NC-STeP, states can implement and sustain high-impact telepsychiatry programs—delivering real solutions to the growing mental health crisis and ensuring care reaches those who need it most.
Get Started!
And the results tell a powerful story
$57 Million in Savings
The state of North Carolina has seen over $57 million (more than 4:1 ROI) in cost savings through NC-STeP
17% reduction in transfers
Since its launch the program has helped achieve a 17% reduction in unnecessary involuntary commitments
Over 60,500 assessments
Over 60,500 psychiatry assessments completed in hospital EDs across North Carolina
How you can help transform mental health care in your state
Academic Medical Centers
AMCs are uniquely positioned to replicate and administer programs in their states—serving as the clinical and operational backbone for the program they can help drive significant improvements in access to mental health care while positioning their institution as a leader in care delivery.
Need providers? We can connect you with mental health service providing organizations that can fill gaps in your planned coverage model.
State Offices of Rural Health
State Offices of Rural Health play a vital role in providing funding opportunities and program oversight. Partnering with ViTel Net and local departments of mental health, Offices can lead efforts to secure both short- and long-term funding while expanding critical mental health access for rural communities statewide.
Rural Health Associations
By serving as coordination hubs, associations can help unify rural providers, enabling them to share clinical and technical resources, lowering costs, and improving behavioral health access for underserved communities. Partnering with ViTel Net, you can lead the effort to implement a proven, scalable model that strengthens rural healthcare across their states.
Powerful capability designed to scale statewide programs
As NC-STeP’s strategic technical partner, our platform has delivered the flexibility needed to support the program at scale
Web Portal & Collaboration
Multi-EHR Integration
Reporting & Analytics
Web Portal & Collaboration
Our configurable web portal supports workflow and documentation for your team ensuring secure access and automated efficiency. It also enables embedded web based videoconferencing capability so clinicians can start video sessions to registered endpoints at partner sites while leveraging on-demand language interpretation.
Multi-EHR Integration
Our platform integrates with your community partner site EHRs using CDA via DIRECT for simplified implementation and secure transmission of patient data to the STeP providers and enables automated results back to the referring site’s EHR.
Reporting & Analytics
Robust reporting and analytics are built into your program to track and report on STeP’s impact and outcomes.(e.g. Timers are kept for each state in the encounter lifecycle to report and manage against program response time goals)
Let’s tackle the mental health crisis in your state together
With our teams’ expertise, lessons learned, and technical support, we can help states start small, secure funding, and build fully sustainable statewide telepsychiatry programs.