A Breakout Opportunity for Behavioral Health

"Without mental health there can be no true physical health.”

-Dr. Brock Chisholm, first director-general of the World Health Organization

Behavioral health is essential not only to individual health, but also population health. Increasing access to behavioral health services can improve outcomes and lower costs. Yet, timely access to affordable services remains a challenge for many Americans. Less than half the adults with any mental health disorder receive treatment. To address the challenge, hospitals and health systems are creating innovative regional systems of behavioral health care by forging community partnerships and leveraging technology. Watch this Transformation Talks video to learn more about:

How health care leaders and their community partners are advancing and sustaining efforts to improve access to behavioral health services.
Success factors for sustainable regional behavioral health networks that have seen positive results and how these networks have been tested by COVID-19.
What resource-stretched health care organizations can do to optimize their efforts to increase access to behavioral health services.

Download the Episode Abstract >>

Key Take Aways

WakeMed Health and Hospitals in Raleigh, North Carolina, in partnership with leading community organizations, created the WakeMed Behavioral Health Network. WakeMed leaders share these key insights on improving access and better serving the behavioral health needs of their community:

Hospitals and health systems must act as the convener in their communities to create a network of resources

Extensively evaluate patients to understand their true needs

Coordinate efforts across all partners in the care network to streamline care for patients

Success factors for a behavioral health strategy include:

CEO buy-in
A behavioral health service line leader or champion
Engaged group effort
Have a long-term view on ROI

Speakers

Donald R. Gintzig, FACHE

President & CEO

WakeMed Health & Hospitals

Rick Shrum

Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer

WakeMed Health & Hospitals

Rebecca Chickey

Senior Director, Behavioral Health Services

American Hospital Association

Fuel Your Transformation

Faced with business-critical challenges heightened by the pandemic, health care organizations are more in need of innovative solutions than ever before. The AHA Transformation Talks series of video discussions among health care thought leaders offers insights to help hospital and health system executives navigate health care’s new, disruptive environment and prepare for what’s next. Each 10-minute video in this series focuses on a transformational topic explored by the 2021 AHA Environmental Scan and SHSMD's Futurescan 2021-2026: Health Care Trends and Implications. Explore the videos on this page for fresh ideas and best practices to guide you through this time of tremendous upheaval.