Fiona Fonseca, MD, of the American Journal of Psychiatry Residents' Journal, recently interviewed Hossam Mahmoud, MD and Omar Elhaj, MD about the benefits and challenges of working as a Telepsychiatrist.  Happy Listening!

Based in southern Oregon, Cow Creek Health and Wellness Center operates two clinics that provide a full suite of healthcare services to the Umpqua tribe and surrounding community. Like many Native American communities, however, Cow Creek found itself with a significant need for mental health professionals – and no effective way to meet the needs of its members.

Telemental Health for Federally Qualified Health Centers: Regroup and Whiteside County Health Department On-demand Webinar and Q&A

Whiteside County Community Health Clinic in rural Rock Falls, IL is a federally qualified health center that delivers a wide variety of services to over 13,000 patients per year. In our most recent webinar, Regroup was joined by Beth Fiorini, the county's public health administrator and CEO of the community health clinic and Whitney Miller, behavioral health coordinator for the county and clinic to discuss how they successfully implemented and continue to maintain an effective telepsychiatry program. 

Download the on-demand webinar and read answers to some of the most pressing questions from our panel of experts.

For many hospitals and health systems, the emergency room is the front line for care for patients who need psychiatric help. According to the National Council for Behavioral Health, the number of patients going to emergency departments for psychiatric services increased 42% over a recent three-year period. The problem is particularly serious in rural and remote areas where clinicians are scarce. In a recent Regroup survey, 62% of facilities said unmet patient need was their biggest challenge in delivering mental healthcare.

As health systems work to provide high-quality care while containing costs, more of them are looking beyond traditional in-person care delivery to innovative new models. By turning to telepsychiatry, these facilities can connect patients with preventive services, improve cost efficiencies and avoid unnecessary hospitalizations.

In the latest version of our Sector Spotlight series, we focus on how telepsychiatry can deliver both clinical and operational benefits for hospitals and health systems.

Regroup recently presented at Zoom's user conference, Zoomtopia 2019. As part of a healthcare panel, Regroup's own Medical Director and SVP of Behavioral Health, Dr. Hossam Mahmoud discussed best practices for building, integrating and expanding telehealth solutions during a session titled: Taking your Telehealth program to Warp Speed.

From adopting value-based care to addressing clinician shortages, mental health programs across the country are facing a variety of clinical and operational pressures. As digital transformation reshapes healthcare delivery, telepsychiatry is rapidly gaining attention as a way to deliver quality behavioral health services efficiently and effectively. Regroup recently surveyed healthcare leaders about their current and future telepsychiatry plans, revealing how many are leveraging virtual care to meet both patient and organizational needs.

Illinois is First State to Require Coverage of Collaborative Care Codes

Originally published in Psychiatric News by the American Psychiatric Association:

Illinois’ new collaborative care law is a powerful example of the impressive impact that close collaboration between APA and its district branches and state associations can bring for physicians and patients. Last month, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law SB 2085, Coverage of the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model. The language includes APA’s model legislation, requiring private insurers and Medicaid in Illinois to cover collaborative care CPT codes. With the strong support of the Illinois Psychiatric Society (IPS), Illinois is now the first state in the nation to enact a law requiring the coverage of collaborative care codes that will increase access to mental health care for patients in primary care settings.

Regroup to educate Federally Qualified Health Center across IL, IA, MO

CHICAGO, IL, Sept. 19, 2019 - Regroup Telehealth, a telepsychiatry company, and the Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) today announced a joint partnership aimed at expanding access to behavioral healthcare across Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. 

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an estimated 46 million Americans deal with mental illness each year, yet only 41% get help for it. Chronic shortages of mental health providers have only added to the problem, prompting many healthcare facilities to look to new ways to deliver care. As more organizations explore telepsychiatry to build on their in-house capabilities, many are finding it can help to boost profitability as well as much-needed care access.

By taking an integrated approach to telepsychiatry, organizations can provide patients with timely access to holistic care while also realizing significant operational and financial benefits. Here’s a closer look at four areas where telepsychiatry can help your facility achieve ROI.

OSF HealthCare is a large regional health system comprised of 13 hospitals and just over 100 primary care, specialty, and urgent care clinics.  Included within these locations are three critical access hospitals, three Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and many other sites serving rural and semi-rural areas in Illinois and Michigan. Our recent webinar highlights Regroup's partnership with OSF and how they've implemented integrated telepsychiatry services to improve access to behavioral health services. 

Read on to download the webinar and see how Dr. Hossam Mahmoud and Luke Raymond, Director of Behavioral Health at OSF answered the questions asked during the live event.