White Paper
From Bottleneck to Breakthrough: How Team-Based Virtual Care Transforms Behavioral Health in the ED
Discover how hospitals are using virtual, team-based behavioral health care to ease ED strain, speed evaluations, and reduce unnecessary admissions.
Psychiatrist shortages, record emergency department visits and prolonged boarding are straining hospital capacity nationwide. But a new care model is easing the pressure — and improving patient flow.
This report shares how hospitals are deploying a virtual, team-based approach to behavioral health that pairs master’s-level clinicians with psychiatrists. The result: faster evaluations, better alignment to patient acuity and fewer unnecessary admissions.
Inside the report:
- How acuity-aligned, team-based care improves throughput and preserves psychiatrist capacity
- Strategies to reduce avoidable inpatient admissions and shorten time-to-disposition
- What a structured 3-path model (LCSW-only, LCSW + psychiatrist, psychiatrist-first) looks like in action
