In a significant step towards improving access to mental health services, WellSpan Health, a leading healthcare system, has announced a new partnership with Concert Health, a company specializing in collaborative care platforms. This collaboration aims to bridge the gap in behavioral healthcare by seamlessly integrating these services into primary care settings.
“We know that providing fast access to behavioral health services is essential to our mission of lifelong wellness and healthy communities,” said Dr. David Vega, senior vice president and chief medical officer at WellSpan Health. “As we reimagine health care, we’re focused on making the care we offer easier to use, and a timely referral to be seen within a day or two means a quicker road to treatment and recovery.”
Concert Health’s approach leverages a collaborative care model, combining a dedicated team of behavioral health professionals with a user-friendly technology platform. This allows for efficient connection with referred WellSpan patients within 48 hours. The platform facilitates remote monitoring of symptoms and medication adherence, while also providing evidence-based counseling interventions directly accessible through the MyWellSpan patient portal.
The effectiveness of Concert Health’s model is backed by impressive results. They have treated nearly 100,000 patients, with half experiencing a significant reduction in anxiety or depression symptoms (as measured by PHQ9 or GAD7) within just 90 days. Patient satisfaction is also high, reflected in a net promoter score of 72. Concert Health further emphasizes its commitment to data-driven practices by citing nine peer-reviewed studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of their collaborative care model.
“We’re excited to partner with WellSpan and proactively address the behavioral health crisis with our collaborative care model, embedding evidence-based treatment within primary care,” said Spencer Hutchins, co-founder and CEO of Concert Health. “Our patient-centered approach aligns with WellSpan’s goal to ensure their primary care providers can seamlessly and effectively deliver whole person care to their entire panel of patients.”
This initiative complements WellSpan’s existing suite of behavioral health services offered through WellSpan Philhaven. These services encompass a comprehensive range of programs, including inpatient care, intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization, telemedicine services, embedded emergency department specialists with expertise in behavioral health, and residential care options. Data from WellSpan reveals a significant 50% decrease in patients seeking behavioral health care within their emergency departments since implementing these services.
The partnership fosters a collaborative environment between Concert Health’s psychiatric providers and WellSpan’s primary care teams. This collaboration involves regular case reviews, providing feedback and guidance to the behavioral health team, and offering specific treatment recommendations for WellSpan primary care providers.
Looking ahead, the partnership between WellSpan and Concert Health underscores the critical need for innovative solutions to address the growing mental health crisis in the United States. A report by the American Psychological Association highlights the strain on current resources, with over half of behavioral health clinicians lacking availability for new patients. This scarcity is further compounded by the fact that these clinicians are increasingly seeing patients with more acute symptoms requiring longer treatment times. Concert Health’s collaborative care model offers a scalable approach to bridge this gap and provide much-needed mental health services to a wider population.
By integrating behavioral health into primary care settings, WellSpan and Concert Health are not only increasing access to these services but also promoting a more holistic approach to patient care. This innovative partnership has the potential to significantly improve mental health outcomes and empower individuals to live healthier, happier lives.
