How Virtual Care Can Enable a Better Approach to Inpatient Psychiatric Care  

For health systems seeking to provide high-quality inpatient psychiatric care, it’s essential to prioritize learning what patients need, how best to support them on their care journey, and how to connect with patients. While in-person care remains the gold standard, giving patients a virtual option can help reduce no-shows and ensure patients aren’t seeking behavioral health care in the ED.     

In a webinar hosted by Becker’s Hospital Review, healthcare leaders from Carilion Clinic and Basset Health Network came together to discuss how they’re leveraging partnerships with telehealth organizations to overcome hiring challenges and help their communities get the best care possible. 

They were also joined by two providers, Dr. Tisa Ayuso and Dr. Ghazanfar Khan, who shared their experience providing virtual behavioral health care in an inpatient setting. 

How Carilion Clinic overcame staffing challenges during COVID-19 and beyond 

Laura Taylor, the Program Director of Psychiatry at Carilion Clinic spoke to the organization’s challenges navigating call outs during the COVID-19 pandemic. At one point, the organization had to shut down the unit and then reopen. Taylor said, “It took a lot of time to navigate scheduling to make sure that we were staffed appropriately to meet the patient needs on the unit.”  

From the hiring perspective, it took months for physicians to complete their credentialing. However, after partnering with Iris, Carilion was able to attain a reliable provider.  

Reflecting on this time, Taylor said, “To have an established Iris Telehealth provider was incredibly important because it created reliability on the unit. We knew exactly what we were working with when we had the physician. She was very reliable, and it created continuity of care.”  

Basset Health Network’s approach to staffing providers in rural New York  

Basset Health Network is in upstate New York, where its patients are geographically dispersed across the region.  

Amid cross-departmental changes, Basset found itself with a shortage of clinicians on the inpatient side.  

While they were in the recruitment process, they couldn’t hire clinicians fast enough. They had leveraged locums to help run their inpatient unit, but they needed a long-term solution that would almost exclusively provide physician oversight on the inpatient unit. Dr. James Anderson, Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Basset, said they wanted to expand their approach to virtual care. 

Anderson said, “We thought in the long term, it was going to create a situation where we could offer more flexibility when looking at full-time staff members. Even if they weren’t working full-time in a virtual capacity, they would have that tool as part of their tool belt. 

So, whether it was because of illness or convenience, it’s an important arrow in our quiver to be able to expand virtual health to include providing services on the inpatient end.” 

The provider experience facilitating virtual care  

While Dr. Tisa Ayuso has been with Basset for a short time, she says her role as Virtual Medical Director has been going well. 

“We have our systems in place in terms of our morning rounds. We have the computer system up and running. We recently just got a fish-eye lens camera, so I have better visibility of seeing everyone in the morning meetings, which has been fantastic.” 

Along with working with patients, Dr. Ayuso also works with Bassett’s medical students to demonstrate best practices for delivering effective inpatient psychiatric care. 

Before working with Iris, Dr. Ghazanfar Khan started to experience the stress of the provider shortage and knew he wanted to make a change for his mental health. Since beginning his virtual inpatient role, Dr. Kahn enjoys focusing more on patients than commuting. 

“I’ve been able to focus more on my patients. I have charts pulled out when I’m seeing patients so that I can see their labs and medications and the nursing and social work notes. It has been working great for me. The hospital staff made it more convenient for me to transition from in-person to virtual.” 

The benefits and challenges of virtual care  

Virtual behavioral health makes it easier for patients to attend appointments and helps improve satisfaction overall. At Carilion, Taylor says that having a blended model has enhanced patient care. 

Reflecting on her observations, she said, “I had an opportunity to round with our telehealth psychiatrist, and rarely would I hear patients request a different provider. This provider was very good at building rapport quickly; they exchanged a wealth of information back and forth. I think patients felt very comfortable with that provider in a telehealth setting.”   

Besides a few technical glitches and finding the right place to take the video calls, Taylor says telehealth has been “almost seamless.” 

At Basset, Anderson says they’ve heard almost zero patient complaints about virtual care. He said the challenges they faced were mainly on the front end. 

He said, “I wouldn’t say it was a challenge, so much as there were legitimate questions and concerns from staff on the unit about how we were going to operate on a daily basis. There were concerns about how we would get Dr. Ayuso in the room. It turns out that wasn’t as big of a deal as some anticipated.” 

Anderson also expanded on the benefits, noting, “I just got an email today from our clerkship director who is in charge of the medical student’s psychiatry rotation. He said the students are having a fantastic experience, and they love Dr. Ayuso. 

In some ways, there’s some suspicion that there’s even more contact with Dr. Ayuso than there might be if the psychiatrist was there on the unit. It’s been a surprise to some of the staff members on the unit about how non-disruptive it has been.” 

Advice on finding the right telehealth partner  

At Basset, Anderson said they considered several things when searching for a behavioral health partner. “First,” he said, was “the ability to become impaneled with our various insurers. We absolutely want people that are willing and able to accept Medicare and Medicaid.” 

Next, Anderson said Basset was looking for a partner who could serve as a collaborating physician for their nurse practitioners. After talking with multiple telehealth companies, Basset landed on Iris Telehealth because of their ability to meet their needs. 

Anderson said, “It was really strong communication and project management. To help us, we came in, and we sort of knew where we wanted to get to, but we didn’t know how to get there. Iris had this combination of knowledge and commitment to clear and confident communication. They had willingness to collaborate, but also had proven ideas that worked before – that was a big plus. 

They also had a clear commitment to quality services. When Iris is presenting a clinician to us, we know that clinician has already been well vetted by Iris. By the time we’re talking to the clinician, there’s a little bit of a halo effect because of the trust we’ve built. 

It’s not sign unseen. We build the partnership, and we see that things are working in other areas – it made it a pretty easy choice to go with Iris, and we’ve been happy so far.” 

The importance of collaboration and quality support  

For Carilion, Taylor said relationships and communication are incredibly important to finding the right behavioral health partner. 

“Working with well-informed individuals who know exactly what to do, have had that experience, and can offer solutions while listening to needs. That’s what I’ve enjoyed so much about my relationship with Shannon.” 

Shannon works as a Client Alignment Executive (CAE) at Carilion. Taylor says she’s enjoyed working with her CAE, who helps figure out what Carilion needs, how Iris can meet those needs, and the creativity of thinking outside the box. 

“The ease of transitioning a provider into the Carilion system is flawless,” said Taylor. “Every need is thought of. Every detail is considered when it comes to invoicing and general backend operations.  

Everything is very streamlined. It’s predictable, and there are no surprises. It’s been a wonderful experience. It’s meant to support Carilion and Carilion’s needs and not create barriers.” 

Figure out your next steps  

We’re so grateful for the time Laura Taylor, Dr. James Anderson, Dr. Ayuso, and Dr. Ghazanfar Khan generously shared with us. Thank you for your partnership and for all you do to help expand access to quality behavioral health care in your communities!  

Weren’t able to make it to the webinar? You can watch the full video here.  

If you’d like to learn more about integrating quality behavioral health programs into your organization, contact us today to get started! 

Leverage Telepsychiatry to Build an Effective MAT Program

Access to high-quality substance-use disorder treatment has never been more important. The opioid epidemic continues to grow and impact more and more lives, families, and communities across the country. And, healthcare organizations must include some form of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services for patients with substance use disorders and those seeking addiction treatment.

However, building an effective MAT program at your organization doesn’t have to involve a massive overhaul of your organization’s services. Working with a dedicated telepsychiatry or behavioral health partner can help if you’re just getting started and enable you to better expand your program to meet the growing needs of your community.

Note: This piece will focus on building a standard Office-Based Opioid Treatment program (OBOT) rather than a more intensive Opioid Treatment Program (OTP). If you’re hoping to learn more about providing OTP services, including methadone clinics, check out our full whitepaper on building an MAT program.

We will also share some insights from Iris Telehealth’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Thomas Milam throughout this piece for further insights into substance-use disorder and treatment.

Building an MAT program from scratch

Generally speaking, you’ll want to build out an OBOT program if you’re planning on prescribing Suboxone to treat patients with opioid-use disorders (OUDs). An OBOT program will allow prescribers with an X waiver to prescribe schedule III, IV, and V controlled substances to help treat those patients.

If that kind of treatment would be a good fit for your patients, make sure to keep in mind these key considerations when building your program:

  • Any providers participating in your OBOT program (i.e., prescribing these controlled substances, including Suboxone/buprenorphine) will need an X waiver. If your current providers don’t have their X waiver, they can undergo training from the DEA and apply for their waiver.
  • While your provider is receiving the appropriate training for their X waiver, your organization can start building what your OBOT program would look like. Alternatively, you can hire a provider who has their X waiver and specialized experience working with patients experiencing OUD who can help support your program. Remember, working with a strategic behavioral health partner can expand your access to highly qualified providers for your program.
  • To have a Suboxone program, you need to be able to refer patients to a counselor. If you don’t have internal counseling services available, you should have a formalized referral relationship with another provider or organization in your community that does.
  • Plan on having clinic staff available on-site to monitor patients when they start their first day of Suboxone.
  • When starting patients on Suboxone, you may initially have them come in once a week. Then you will likely see them once every three months for maintenance.
  • Your OBOT program will have record-keeping requirements that your organization must meet. You’ll need to comply with 42 CFR, a federal regulation requiring an additional standard of privacy than typical HIPAA requirements. You will need to keep a log of all patients currently (or previously) prescribed Suboxone. Generally, you can keep these records in your standard EMR.

Challenges and opportunities you might face

The number one challenge your healthcare organization will likely face is dealing with stigma. People with substance use disorders are often the victims of stigma, stereotypes, negative portrayals in the media, and preconceived notions around what those disorders look like.

However, there are steps you can take to overcome that challenge, and it all starts with education:

  1. Educate your staff: Provide comprehensive education to your team. Include an overview of medications (including medications like naltrexone, which doesn’t require any special licensing or certifications for prescribers). An MAT program doesn’t have to mean a methadone clinic. MAT services can be easily and seamlessly incorporated into the work your team is already doing.
  2. Educate your community: It will be essential to educate your community on what substance use disorders are (and what they aren’t) and that they do not discriminate based on social status, economic status, race, or background.
  3. Educate your patients: Spread the word. Let your patients know about the value of your MAT services, regardless of whether they have a documented SUD. Current patients may serve as an excellent referral source for community members in need of treatment.

Remember, the most significant benefit of building an MAT program is providing a valuable service to your community that will save lives.

Finding the right provider for your program

As you build out your program, it’s important to ensure you hire the right provider for your patient population, the kind of substance use disorders you treat, and your organization’s culture.

Here are some best practices for finding the right provider for your MAT program:

  • Make sure your provider has dedicated experience treating substance use disorders and is familiar with a wide range of treatment options.
  • If your organization serves patients experiencing opioid use disorders and plans on prescribing Suboxone, you should only consider providers with their X waiver or willing to get their X waiver.
  • Look for providers who have worked with patients like yours and understand the particular challenges they face.
  • If your organization is in a rural or underserved community, consider utilizing a strategic behavioral health partner to open up your provider pool.

Leverage partners to support telehealth MAT program offerings

Fortunately, you don’t have to build out your MAT program by yourself. Behavioral health partners like Iris Telehealth can be valuable resources to help your healthcare organization source and vet potential behavioral health providers for your program.

Here are some benefits to using a partner to develop an effective MAT telehealth program:

  • Leveraging partnerships that utilize telepsychiatry or virtual care will allow you to access high-quality providers from across the country who have their X waiver and can prescribe Suboxone.
  • Through a dedicated partner relationship, your organization can draw on the expertise and experience of organizations and providers who have been through this exact process and have seen effective MAT programs in action.
  • A behavioral health partner will be able to support the long-term, sustainable growth of your telehealth MAT program. This support will decrease the burden of recruitment and program implementation on your team.

If you’ve encountered challenges finding highly qualified providers in your area, we strongly recommend considering telehealth as an option to help you better serve your community.

Some key resources to get started

Countless clinics and healthcare organizations have successfully navigated this process, and you will be able to benefit from their guidance and experience. You can also on some helpful resources in the early stages of building your program.

Some resources to start with include:

Then, if you’re planning on utilizing strategic partnerships or telepsychiatry to build up your program or source highly qualified providers, Iris Telehealth can help your organization through that process. If you want to learn more about getting started, contact us today or download our comprehensive whitepaper on building an effective MAT program for more information.

Clinician Corner: Why Iris Provider Elaina Najera Believes Telehealth Creates a More Inclusive Future

Iris clinicians are at the heart of what makes our organization such a special place to work. That’s why we’re turning the spotlight on the amazing work they’re doing every day. This month, we’re sitting down to talk with Elaina Najera, one of our incredible LCSWs.   

Q. How did you find Iris and decide you wanted to be an Iris provider?

A. I was looking at all the available online positions at different job hosting sites. I located Iris and thought, “Telehealth, I could do that. I’ve done that already.”

Then, when I did the initial meeting with Iris, and they started telling me about the organization, I was immediately sold on the ability to work from home and to work for some of the most disenfranchised folks. That’s a huge issue for me. Serving communities that aren’t normally served appealed to me.

Another thing that was huge was the competitive pay. That was another factor in considering this job. When I thought through the first couple of interviews, I realized this job was what I wanted. 

Q. How does teletherapy compare to in-person care?

A. I have been a social worker for at least 15 years and did in-person care. Then, with the advent of COVID-19 and a public health emergency, the state allowed for telehealth and expanded the ability. Initially, at the start of the pandemic, I was in case management work, not direct client service therapy.

Then, I switched mid-pandemic to doing therapy full-time, and it was all by telephone. I couldn’t even use Zoom at that location. It was very different. Comparing the two, no matter where I am, who I am, and where I’m at, I’m always the same person. I’m authentic, and I will be the same caring provider that I am, whether in person or using telehealth.

Telehealth has expanded my ability to provide care to people I usually wouldn’t have been able to reach as an in-person provider.

I’m a huge advocate for telehealth because I feel like the relationships can be just as deep and meaningful. In a therapeutic setting, the relationship is huge. It’s a huge part of the change cycle and folks’ ability to grow and build health in their life.

Even through telehealth, I can build those same strong relationships with my clients that I had while I was an in-person provider as well.

Q. How do you foster connection with patients virtually?

A. In person, you can see more of their environment. Sometimes, you can latch on to different things. Fostering a virtual connection means being authentic and genuine with what you are and who you are and acknowledging that sometimes there will be technology issues. Sometimes, there will be connectivity issues, and rolling with that when that happens.

By doing telehealth, I can see into people’s homes, which you’re not typically able to see, and see how people function in their homes in a traditional setting as a therapist. I can see pictures in the background and say, “Oh, that’s interesting.” Or they might say, “My room is super messy right now – ‘this’ is what’s going on.”

That fosters a relationship to say, “Okay, so what’s going on emotionally, mentally, that your room is in this state?” Virtually, it’s about being authentic. That’s one thing I will always come back to.

I am open to questions because sometimes your patients do not see your office. For example, they see my blurred virtual background. They’re not seeing all the things that tell them about me that they might see in an in-person setting. That’s why I’ll wear fun earrings, and then they’ll ask about it, and we joke about things and share. For me, engagement is huge for fostering that connection.

Q. As a healthcare professional, how do you manage work-life balance?

A. Since joining Iris, my work-life balance has been so much better. Getting rid of a commute has transformed my life and being home when I’m done with work. Managing a work-life balance for me is important because I am also a caregiver to my sister, who has some health issues.

So, being available to take her where she needs to go and do those things after work is important to me. One of the ways I manage my work-life balance is when my computer is off, I’m not working. I don’t have Zoom on my phone; I don’t check my emails when I’m off work. I’m grateful to be in a setting without being on call or having things to worry about.

That was a huge selling point for me with Iris – it’s more like traditional therapy. You are a therapy provider because you’re not on call or responding to crises and emergencies. I have a history of working in residential treatment. When you’re working in residential, it’s always a crisis.

As I’ve grown with Iris in the last six or seven months, I’ve had a new sense of calm and peace about my work life. That’s wonderful for me. I also make sure to schedule time off, be proactive about that time off, and make that a priority for myself and my family. I also make sure I take my breaks.

Someone asked me, “How do you do it when you have four or five sessions back-to-back?” I say, “I do the 50-minute therapeutic hour, and then I have 10 minutes to write a note or pet one of my cats, make a cup of tea, take a break, walk around in my living room, and listen to a song.”

One of my life passions is K-Pop, which has been for about 20 years. To manage and enjoy my life, I’ll listen to a K-pop song and find peace between sessions so I can show up and be the best person for my clients.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A. The most rewarding part of my job is being able to serve folks who usually wouldn’t be able to access care. I have a caseload of at least five or six folks who are unhoused right now and are struggling to meet their basic needs. The rewarding part is meeting them where they’re at – if they are in a parking lot, parked in their car because that’s where they’re sleeping for the night. I can meet them there and provide therapy to them that way.

It’s rewarding to see a slight change. The way I look at it is there’s a spectrum of suffering, and if we can move that needle a little bit, we’re not going make huge changes overnight, especially when folks’ basic needs aren’t being met. Reducing that suffering for that day, week, or month is rewarding.

The rewarding part is there’s a social justice issue mixed in all of it. Some people would not be able to access care because of either being unhoused, being disabled, having mobility issues, or having transportation issues; being able to serve those populations and give back to a community is so rewarding.

Q. What does providing teletherapy to the unhoused community look like in practice?

A. Most folks in California, where I practice, have a government phone. The government phone allows them access for free for maybe a dollar a month. It’s very affordable. So, usually, they also have data, and we can do a Zoom call. If we can’t do a Zoom call, we do it by telephone.

I still provide the same care, compassion, and connection. I have some of the greatest relationships with folks who we only meet by phone, but they trust me, talk to me, and it’s a wonderful experience.

If they don’t have a private place to meet, say they’re in shared housing right now in the shelter, they go to the local behavioral health office in Nevada County where I work, and we set them up in a room with a Zoom or Team’s link. I have one patient right now who does it that way, so they’re afforded privacy in an office space.

Q. What do you love about working with Iris?

A. I love everything, but I particularly love the amount of support that I have. I have my Clinical Operations Manager, Katelyn Deckert, shout out to her. She was recently on maternity leave, so bless her for having her baby. Melissa Kennedy was able to cover during that time. I never felt like I didn’t have support. I always had support.

The other thing is that Iris has fostered such a good relationship with my clinic that my clinic trusts me. They trust Iris, and I feel like a valued professional. I have beautiful equipment that works wonderfully for the job. I have wonderful pay and benefits that are huge to me.

Medical benefits are another issue in our country for people who need medical coverage. To have it as part of my job is wonderful, too. I love telling folks, I work from home, and I get to provide therapy to people.” I love sharing that. I love telling people I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and do clinical social work every day from my own home.

That’s huge for me. That’s what I love about Iris. I got one of my close friends and confidants a position with Iris. She’s been on for three or four months now, and I’m working on getting as many other of my LCSW friends to come over.

Q. Why do you think teletherapy is important to the future of mental healthcare?

A. With the advent of the public health emergency of COVID, which we are still experiencing, COVID is still very existent. We saw that it is possible for folks to access care from home and access care in other ways than traditionally going into an office. You’re talking about travel time to an office, being in the office, waiting for the appointment, making the next appointment, leaving the office, and traveling back home.

For some folks, it’s a disability justice issue as well. Another area that I’m very passionate about is disability advocacy. We’re finding that more and more folks have been disabled by virtue of having COVID-19 infections. There’s a lot of long COVID happening, but disabled people have always existed, and they’re suddenly realizing that things do not have to be in person to have the same quality, care, and impact.

For me, it’s the future because it’s the most inclusive. It’s the option that will allow us to serve the most people. Some people have never been able to see a psychiatrist, but now they can because they can see one through telehealth from an Iris provider. To me, that’s amazing. That is the future.

Folks like me who are highly skilled in this field for a reason can reach more people via telehealth. It reduces barriers to getting treatment. That’s the future.

Q. What advice would you give someone new to telehealth?

A. My advice for someone new to telehealth is to be yourself. Practice with your equipment on someone else who’s not a client so you can get familiar with your equipment. Thankfully, Iris does that with you. You get to practice with IT when they set you up, and then you get to practice with your COM.

And remember, don’t ever think that telehealth is “less than.” There’s a stigma or a judgment that happens in the psychiatry and therapy community that somehow telehealth is less than. If you feel that as a provider, your clients and patients will feel that, too. Starting in telehealth, you need to honor telehealth for the sacred connection that it is and just as equal and valuable as an in-person session.

At Iris, we believe our providers should be respected, valued, and applauded for the work they do, and we couldn’t be more proud to say, “thank you” to our very own Elaina Najera. If you’d like to learn more about working for Iris Telehealth, contact us today.

How Health Systems Can Develop a Financially Sustainable Behavioral Health Program

In the U.S., 14.1 million people have a serious mental illness, making behavioral health treatment critical. However, significant barriers keep people from the care they need, including the provider shortage and lack of specialty care, leading people to seek treatment in the ED.

Building a financially sustainable behavioral health program at scale can help these patients get quality care and reduce the total spend on their medical conditions (for both the patients and the health systems providing treatment). Partnering with an organization that can facilitate efficient care models can help your organization scale services and meet quality measures that enable your health system to thrive.

In this blog, we’ll share the keys to building a financially sustainable behavioral health program and insights from our Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer, Dan Ferris, on the benefits and impact on total cost of care.

The benefits of achieving a financially sustainable behavioral health program

Every health system faces a hierarchy of needs regarding patient care – from those who need immediate care in the ED to those stuck in referral queues to those who need proactive outreach in the community.

Let’s take a look at the six ways achieving financial sustainability can benefit your patients and overall organization:

  • Increased revenue: In outpatient settings, many health systems are foregoing revenue by not having timely access available – driving unnecessarily high leakage and no-show rates. By having scalable care models that provide high-quality care, you can see and retain more patients.
  • Sustainable margins: To drive sustainable margins in outpatient behavioral healthcare, health systems must leverage a multidisciplinary care team that works top-of-license and deliberately ensures patients are navigated to the right resource at the right time in the right way.
  • Increased ED throughput: By augmenting your on-site care with a multidisciplinary team of behavioral health providers available 24/7/365, you can ensure every patient receives timely access to quality care and is not taking up valuable space in the ED longer than is clinically appropriate.
  • Reduced admissions: By having access to a variety of virtual providers, like licensed counselors, PMHNPs, and MDs, on your team, patients are more likely to get to the right level of care and help ensure only the most critical are admitted, and those who might be more effectively treated in a lower level of care get the help they need. Ultimately, this approach can help decrease long-term costs.
  • Limited revisit rates: By providing the most effective care possible, and ensuring every patient has an optimal discharge plan to manage their mental health, patients are less likely to come back to your hospital. At the same time, it can also better position your organization to retain patients within your network.
  • Improved total cost of care: By treating behavioral health, you get the benefits of integrated behavioral health care. That’s because alongside physical conditions, you’re helping total cost of care over time, and increasing key metrics like pharmacy cost, reducing length of stay, and improving patient outcomes.

All six of these benefits combined help create a behavioral health program that’s both efficient and successful. Next, we’ll review the quality care models that help make financial sustainability in behavioral health care possible.

Care models that build a financially sustainable future

At Iris, we design programs that seamlessly integrate into a health system and connect organizations with the highest quality behavioral health specialists. These services have helped organizations reduce their referral backlog by 83%, divert 36% of psych referrals to a lower level of care, and improve depression symptoms by 38% over eight weeks of care. You can read the full story here.

Here’s a look inside how our services work

Bridge Care Services: A Behavioral Health Integration model backed by clinical and operational expertise to solve ambulatory care at scale and deliver long-term clinical and financial outcomes for hospitals and health systems. We ensure the patients who need care first get care first – while being efficiently directed to an appropriate care plan. Our cross-functional care team of psychiatrists, therapists, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners will fully integrate into your health system. When clinically appropriate, our team will facilitate collaborative transitions to additional ambulatory services, primary care, and community partners as needed.

Key takeaway: Bridge Care Services hits target metrics such as expanding and accelerating access to care and achieving critical financial results like increasing revenue, driving sustainable margins, and improving total cost of care.

On-Demand Services: These services leverage a team of providers to help support ED and MedSurg units with on-demand consults 24/7 – ensuring your health system is never without a behavioral health specialist. On-Demand Services provides access to providers who are experts in assessing and managing risk to help patients get triaged and evaluated as quickly as possible.

Key takeaway: On-Demand Services leads to increased ED throughput, decreased inpatient admissions, and reduced revisit rates.

Scheduled Services: This approach provides a predictable coverage model for organizations, meaning your virtual providers are available on a regular schedule each week. Most importantly, it means your providers are never without a behavioral health provider to lean on for their expertise.

Key takeaway: Scheduled Services expands patient access to behavioral health care, increases revenue, and improves total cost of care.

Laying the foundation for whole-person care

Physical and behavioral health are intrinsically linked. For example, research from the National Library of Medicine shows that 74.9% of psychiatric inpatients had at least one medical comorbidity, including 57.5% of people ages 18-24.

If you’re managing total cost of care and population health, behavioral health integration is essential.

According to a behavioral health analysis by Evernorth Health Services, treating behavioral health conditions in outpatient care is directly tied with a reduction in medical and pharmacy costs. In their analysis, they highlight savings up to $2,565 per person over the 15 months following a diagnosis and up to $3,321 per person over the 27 months following a diagnosis.

Where Iris Telehealth fits in

Iris Telehealth delivers high-quality behavioral health services via telehealth all across the country. From our rigorous provider vetting process to our in-depth knowledge and expertise, we help ensure your organization has a thriving, financially stable behavioral health program.

Contact us today to learn more about our care models and how we can help your organization increase ED throughput and provide short-term care to your patient population.