Arbor Health in East Lewis County has announced a new partnership with South Sound Behavioral Hospital (SSBH), which expands access to behavioral and mental health services for patients in the Arbor Health Morton Hospital emergency department.
The program connects Arbor Health’s ER medical staff with SSBH specialists for consultation for patients experiencing behavioral health concerns, ensuring timely assessments, recommendations and connections to resources and appropriate levels of care, including SSBH’s outpatient programs for seniors and youth, according to an Arbor Health news release.
By integrating behavioral health screenings into Arbor Health’s ER, patients can receive professional evaluations from trained behavioral health professionals, coordinated with emergency department care teams, without traveling long distances.
“Our mission is to provide every patient with the best care,” Arbor Health’s Chief Executive Officer Max Neal said in the release. “This partnership allows us to expand much-needed services, provide timely behavioral health assessments in coordination with our physicians and medical staff within the ER, and strengthen the support available to patients and families experiencing a medical emergency.”
In addition to behavioral health screenings while under the care of medical staff in the ER, the partnership creates new pathways for Arbor Health patients to access SSBH’s outpatient behavioral health programs. These services offer treatment options for youth and older adults, addressing a broad range of behavioral health needs throughout the community. Patients who require a higher level of care can also benefit from coordinated placement assistance through South Sound Behavioral Hospital, helping streamline access to inpatient behavioral health treatment when appropriate.
Through enhanced coordination, telehealth technology and expanded referral options, Arbor Health and South Sound Behavioral Hospital are working together to provide comprehensive behavioral health support for patients of all ages, the release stated.
For more information about Arbor Health services, visit myarborhealth.org.
