VCU Health and Array Behavioral Care Expand Telepsychiatry Partnership in Virginia

VCU’s Tappahannock Hospital is Second in VCU Health System to Receive 24/7 Telepsychiatry Coverage from Array

Tappahannock, VA – VCU Tappahannock Hospital today announced a telepsychiatry program that will support patients with mental health needs with access to timely, high-quality behavioral health services in partnership with Array Behavioral Care, the largest telepsychiatry practice in the country and a thought leader in modern behavioral health care. With new around-the-clock psychiatric services delivered through in-hospital videoconferencing, VCU Tappahannock Hospital will integrate Array’s experienced behavioral health clinicians across its emergency department, medical, and surgical units. The partnership will deliver more timely, proficient, and appropriate coverage to Essex County patients and help address the growing mental health crisis in this rural area of the state.

Telepsychiatry Partnership and Patient Access to Psychiatric Services in Virginia

The innovative program at VCU Tappahannock Hospital implements on-demand telepsychiatry services for patients and support for onsite staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This virtualized model has been proven to be an efficient, convenient, and cost-effective form of mental health care delivery to safely expand psychiatric care and overcome staffing shortages of in-person psychiatric providers. Array’s licensed psychiatric clinicians will see VCU Tappahannock’s admitted patients and those in the emergency department online directly and consult with hospitalists on treatment plans, psychiatric evaluations and assessments, disposition decisions, and prescribe medication, if needed.

This program is the second partnership of its kind with the VCU Health. Array has delivered on-demand emergency department telepsychiatry services at VCU’s Community Memorial Hospital in South Hill, VA since May 2020. With this additional clinical support, VCU Tappahannock Hospital will be positioned to shorten wait times, make better use of available beds, improve satisfaction, and help ensure their patients are receiving the most suitable, least restrictive level of care. Array has more than a decade of experience in Virginia helping to reduce psychiatric boarding in emergency departments.

“The increasing rise of mental health cases and needs in our community has stretched the capacity of our resources to support these patients with the specialty services they deserve. Our partnership with Array has helped us meet that need at VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital,” said hospital president Liz Martin.

“From consults and answering questions to direct patient care and rounding for follow-up, Array’s extensive clinical expertise will now enhance our behavioral health capacity in ways our staff and patients at Tappahannock urgently need. I’m confident this program will have a positive impact on our goal to provide safe, high-quality comprehensive care, to include mental health support.”

VCU Health and Array Behavioral Care Telepsychiatry Partnership

The VCU Tappahannock and Array partnership come as there’s been an increase in mental health admissions in emergency departments nationwide and a shortage of behavioral health clinicians available to meet demand. According to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, Emergency Departments across Virginia have reported a nearly 4% statewide increase in the number of patients presenting with behavioral health issues and mental health emergency admissions. At the same time, staffing shortages at Virginia’s mental hospitals have overwhelmed facilitates as the patient population has surged since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with VCU Health by extending this program to Tappahannock Hospital,” said Array Vice President Liz Bello. “As patients’ mental and behavioral health needs continue to grow, our telepsychiatry services ensures VCU Tappahannock’s onsite care team and their patients don’t have to wait days when they need psychiatric services immediately. This latest extension of Array’s telepsychiatry program continues our commitment to expand access to high quality behavioral health care for facilities and individuals in rural communities.”

Learn more about Array Behavioral Care’s on-demand services for emergency departments, hospitals, and other acute care settings.

About VCU Tappahannock Hospital

VCU Tappahannock Hospital strives every day to earn the community’s trust with state-of-the-art medical care, compassionate professionals and concern for the community they serve. The hospital’s services range from traditional hospital care to intensive care, including sophisticated diagnostics, home care and physician specialists in most fields. On Jan. 1, 2021, this hospital located in the Northern Neck and upper Middle Peninsula region of Virginia joined VCU Health System. To learn more, visit https://www.vcuhealth.org/tappahannock 

About Array

Array Behavioral Care (formerly InSight + Regroup) is the leading and largest telepsychiatry service provider in the country with a mission to transform access to quality, timely behavioral health care. Array offers telepsychiatry solutions and services across the continuum of care, from hospital to home, through its OnDemand Care, Scheduled Care and AtHome Care divisions. For more than 20 years, Array has partnered with hundreds of hospitals and health systems, community healthcare organizations and payers of all sizes to expand access to care and improve outcomes for underserved individuals, facilities, and communities. As an industry pioneer and established thought leader, Array has helped shape the field, define the standard of care and advocate for improved telepsychiatry-friendly regulations. To learn more, visit www.arraybc.com.