Saturday, December 21, 2024
12/21/2024
Project Title: St. Bernards Behavioral Health Rural Telenetwork Applicant Organization Name: St. Bernards Development Foundation Applicant Organization Address: 400 East Street, Jonesboro, AR, 72401 Applicant Organization Website: https://www.stbernards.info/foundation/ Requested Award Amount: $1,750,000 Applicant Organization Facility Type: E: Nonprofit Hospital Project Contact Name and Title: Kevin Byron, AVP Behavioral Health Project Contact Details: kbyron@sbrmc.org 1.870.897.5355 FUNDING PREFERENCE: B- SERVICES (The eligible entity proposes to use federal funds made available through this funding opportunity to develop plans for, or to establish, Telehealth networks that provide mental health care.) St. Bernards Development Foundation aims to enhance the St. Bernards Behavioral Health Telenetwork in rural Northeast Arkansas through an expanded telehealth program. This initiative seeks to address the persistent need for comprehensive behavioral health care in underserved rural areas, particularly those characterized by high poverty and limited access to medical services. By leveraging telemedicine, patients will benefit from improved access to care, reduced wait times, and a broader range of services, either from local clinics or the comfort of their own homes. The proposed project responds to the critical healthcare challenges dominant in Northeast Arkansas, where physician shortages and lack of mental health professionals intensify the already limited access to care. With a focus on integrating primary care with behavioral health, the initiative aims to mitigate delays in accessing care, thereby reducing costs for both patients and the healthcare system. Targeting low-income populations in counties with poverty rates exceeding the national average, the proposed program aims to foster trust between providers and patients while addressing geographical barriers to care. Partnering with three primary care facilities, Five Rivers Rural Health Clinic in Pocahontas, Lawrence Memorial Family Medical Center in Lawrence County, and Wynne Medical Clinic in Cross County, the project will deploy telehealth technology to deliver mental health services to patients in need. This includes counseling, medication management, talk therapy, and psychological evaluations, all accessible through St. Bernards Go technology. By providing efficient and effective virtual care, the project seeks to extend mental health coverage to underserved rural communities, ultimately improving the overall well-being of residents in Northeast Arkansas. Through the partnership of the rural originating sites, who saw a combination of over 150 patients through telehealth visits last year, and St. Bernards Behavioral Health who saw over 4,500 patients through telehealth, St. Bernards will grow a comprehensive telenetwork service in Northeast Arkansas which will flourish by means of evidence-based performance measures created from meaningful and relevant data. St. Bernards Healthcare will add value to all telehealth networks through communication, research and collaboration.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).