Improving access to mental and behavioral health services via a Psychiatric Consultation and Psychiatric Assessment Team Telemedicine model - With the Improving access to mental and behavioral health services via a Psychiatric Consultation and Psychiatric Assessment Team Telemedicine model project, St. Charles Health System (SCHS) proposes to (1) establish a Psychiatric Consultation Telemedicine model and (2) expand the service hours of its Psychiatric Assessment Team (PAT). These investments will meaningfully increase access to and quality of behavioral health care in Central Oregon, particularly for the most vulnerable and underserved residents, such as rural residents and individuals experiencing substance use disorders and mental health conditions. The population of focus for this project is individuals with behavioral health care needs in the Central Oregon region served by SCHS, which includes Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties. Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) will support planning for and implementing a new Psychiatric Consultation Telemedicine model at SCHS. CDS funds will allow SCHS to hire a Consult Liaison Psychiatrist, allocate time from other SCHS staff to plan, implement, oversee, and monitor this new program, and purchase necessary supplies and equipment. CDS funding will also support extending hours for SCHS' Psychiatric Assessment Team (PAT). Comprised of master's-level providers, the PAT performs crisis evaluation and support for SCHS Emergency Departments and medical floors in Bend, Redmond, Madras, and Prineville. CDS investment will allow SCHS’ two rural hospitals (Prineville and Madras) to offer 24/7 PAT consultations. Project Goals 1. By Dec. 2024, develop telemedicine platform for Behavioral Health specialty consultation. Objectives include: By Jan. 2025, train 75% of nursing and PAT staff at St. Charles Health System on the use of telemedicine interface and equipment. 2. By Jan. 2025, implement a comprehensive Consult Liaison program to provide psychiatric consultation, through telemedicine or in-person care, for patients presenting in the emergency department and/or inpatient medical floors with an identified need for a psychiatric assessment. Objectives include: By Jan. 2025, train 75% of providers, PAT staff and hospitalists at St. Charles Health System on the policies, procedures, and operations of the Consult Liaison service. By June 2025, 15-20 psychiatric consultations per week take place in the Emergency Department and/or the inpatient floors through face-to-face or telemedicine. 3. By March 2025, develop a quality improvement analysis of the Consult Liaison program. Objectives include: Beginning Feb. 2025, evaluate the new Consult Liaison service weekly for eight weeks and implement improvements as necessary by March 31, 2025. 4. By Jan. 2025, implement a comprehensive after-hours and weekend Psychiatric Assessment Team (PAT) response to Prineville and Madras hospitals through telemedicine to provide master’s-level crisis risk assessments and/or family sessions for patients presenting in the emergency department for a behavioral health crisis. Objectives include: By Dec. 2024, recruit and hire seven-day-per-week night shift PAT staff to be stationed at St. Charles Redmond Hospital. By Jan. 2025, train 75% of providers, PAT staff and hospitalists at St. Charles Health System on the policies, procedures and operations of Psychiatric Assessment Team consults utilizing telemedicine. SCHS expects to directly serve 825 persons with project funds.
