SPOONER, WI -- There’s no doubt that mental health issues are a concern in Washburn County. According to Spooner Health’s 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment, conducted in partnership with the Washburn County Health Department, mental health issues were identified in the community survey as one of the top two health problems affecting those living in our communities.
In response to this well-known issue, Spooner Health recently partnered with Integrated Telehealth Partners (ITP) to provide assessments and consultations to Emergency Department patients. This partnership allows ITP’s board-certified psychiatric providers to assess a patient experiencing an acute mental health episode and determine the best treatment options needed to stabilize the patient. It’s important to note that the actual treatment would take place through other services. The role of ITP at Spooner Health is to consult with providers specially trained in psychiatric illnesses.
How does it work? The Emergency Department’s nursing team connects a patient with an ITP provider through the use of an iPad. This allows the patient to receive a real-time psychiatric evaluation to determine their immediate needs and the appropriate level of care they require. The assessment will help guide the patient in their treatment journey.
Who can use the system? Only registered patients of Spooner Health can use the system. While the primary use is in the Emergency Department, it can also be used for other patients who are admitted to the hospital.
Spooner Health
Spooner Health is a licensed 25-bed critical access hospital with a wide range of services from emergency and inpatient care to outpatient therapy, surgery, and diagnostic imaging. Spooner Health is dedicated to providing high quality healthcare with excellent service.
About Integrated Telehealth Partners
Founded in 2012, Integrated Telehealth Partners is a division of Psychiatric Medical Care (PMC), a leading behavioral healthcare management company with nationwide operations. PMC also manages inpatient psychiatry units and intensive outpatient psychiatry programs within hospitals. ITP partners with community mental health centers, hospital emergency departments, county jails, and other outpatient facilities to provide care, and has providers available in every time zone, nationwide. For more information, visit here.
Last Update: Oct 11, 2024 9:56 am CDT
