Adapting Behavioral Health Integration to 21st Century Needs

BY MANUEL CASTRO                       SPONSORED POST At the start of my career, the standard of care for behavioral health integration was in-person, face-to-face interaction. As new ways to communicate have surfaced, the way we deliver care has also evolved. Today, both as a result of access but also now convenience, behavioral health treatment is often done virtually. To keep on top of the trends, and in light of the access challenges inherent in our region, at Carolinas HealthCare System, we turned to technology to help alleviate these problems and reach more patients. Through a virtual care platform and telehealth services, patients from North and South Carolina can connect with a behavioral health provider from the comfort of home or during a visit with a primary care physician. By moving beyond the walls of the hospital and into the home and primary care setting, our dedicated team of behavioral health experts is able to help thousands of people access the quality behavioral health support they need. I have always said that if we can save one life through this program, it is worthwhile. Two recent stories from our team prove to me that this approach is working: One of our health coaches spoke with a patient who works in law enforcement and struggled to balance being tough and unemotional at work, and then loving and sensitive once he got home to his wife and children. He had never considered behavioral health as a potential treatment option. After assessin...
Source: The Health Care Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Carolinas Healthcare System Manuel Castro Mental Health MyStrength Source Type: blogs