Sunday, May 18, 2025
5/18/2025
Integrating Behavioral Health into Primary Care through Telehealth Evidence-Based Telehealth Network - a.Project title:Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Supports Everyone in Northeast Texas (RISE NETX) b.Applicant organization name:The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (UTTHSC) c.Applicant organization address:11937 US HIGHWAY 271Tyler Tx 75708 d.Applicant organization website:https://www.uthct.edu e.Requested award amount:$350,000/year for 5 years f.Applicant organization facility type:entities operating clinics:rural health clinics g.Project Director name and title:Brittney Nichols MBA, LPC-S h.Project Director contact information (phone and e-mail):903-877-7261 brittney.nichols@uthct.edu i.RISE NETX meets criteria for funding preference because we will use HRSA funding to develop systems of telehealth networks to provide CoCM mental health care using the existing telehealth network of our clinical partner UT Health East Texas. UTTHSC is an institution of higher education and promotes regional connectivity through regular meetings with local mental health authorities such as the Andrew’s Center. j.Service Area – the 35 counties of Northeast Texas span 25,000 sq miles with a population of 1,521,153. 32 are rural, 9 Full and 26 partial HPSA, all 35 are mental health HPSA. Critical characteristics include high suicide rate, lack of mental health service providers, poor national ratings in health factors and health outcomes. k.Needs, Objectives, and Projected Outcomes Identified needs The 35 counties of NETX have less than 63 psychiatrists with per capita rates of mental health providers among the lowest in the state. All Northeast Texas counties have suicide rates significantly higher than both state and national averages, a stark reflection of unmet health needs in this region. Expected demand for telebehavioral health services is clearly present. At our UT Tyler Behavioral Health Clinic, the wait list is close to 1500 patients from the entire NETX region. Project objectives RISE NETX will improve access to behavioral health care in rural underserved primary care clinics in NETX through community health worker supported tele-collaborative care model. 1.Implement supported tele CoCM in 5 rural underserved clinics in NETX and optimize care based on Plan-Do-Study-Act Quality Improvement processes 2.Identify key factors for success across practice sites for teleCoCM in general in comparison with in person CoCM in rural sites 3.Engage patients to reduce barriers to care with Community Health Workers (CHW) l.RISE NETX will support 5 rural and underserved Originating Sites, and 4 comparator sites in NETX. Sites will be brought “on-line” sequentially in a stepped-wedge design, where sites serve as controls before coming “on-line”. m.We expect that 1778 of the 5396 pts seen in CY2023 at Quitman RHC in Wood County would need services starting CY2024. CY 2025: bring on Canton RHC in Van Zandt county (project 626) Carthage RHC in Panola county in CY2026 (project 2032) Henderson RHC in Rusk county in CY2027 (project 3063) and Winnsboro RHC in Franklin county in CY2028 (project 626) n.Self-Assessment:RISE NETX will follow the HRSA BHI EB-TNP model:Clinical outcomes : depression, anxiety, substance use, quality of life Cost and cost-effectiveness:Reduce ED visits and hospitalizations Quality of Care:Improve patient engagement with evidence based practices Access:# patients engaged in care,Wait/travel time for therapy,medication, specialists. Outcomes -RISE NETX’ value is the development of a teleCoCM model for increased access to behavioral health care for rural and underserved communities that is reproducible, customizable and sustainable. p. Additional Activities – The network can be used for teleconsultations, conference, etc.q. Sustainability –RISE NETX has engaged the Meadows Institute (see LOS ) to assist our work with insurers (including Texas Medicaid)to enable optimal,sustainable billing practices. R,s,t.We are not a recipient of a current EB-TNP award.We consulted with the SORH.
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