Definitive Healthcare Corp.
10/16/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/16/2024 13:28
Mental health finds a new home in urgent care centers
Fig. 1 Data is from the Definitive Healthcare Atlas All-Payor Claims product for the 2023 calendar year.
The Children's Hospital Association also reported a substantial rise in visits to emergency departments for mental health treatment among children during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels, including cases concerning self-harm and suicide. Although the demand for emergency behavioral health services has eased since the peak of the pandemic, many continue to struggle with worsened mental health, and rates remain elevated.
Hospital systems are key players in the movement
Provider organizations are stepping up to meet this demand. SSM Health, based in St. Louis, Missouri, opened its first mental health urgent care center in 2020 to help alleviate the pressure on EDs, with a second clinic following in 2024. Collaborating with various community partners, these centers provide a place where people in crisis can receive same-day professional care. Similarly, Seattle Children's Hospital in Washington has opened a mental health urgent care clinic specifically designed to support kids and adolescents.
Other similar walk-in facilities linking both youth and adults to mental health services are springing up across the country, including in Florida, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Wisconsin. This emerging model of care could provide a crucial bridge between traditional outpatient services and ER visits for some people facing mental health crises, making care more accessible.
The benefits of mental health urgent care clinics
Immediate access to care
Many people seeking mental health care in traditional settings often encounter long wait times, sometimes stretching for months, which can delay the support they need and exacerbate psychiatric conditions. A recent survey by the American Psychological Association revealed that over half of psychologists reported having no openings for new patients. For those who do maintain waitlists, average wait times extend to three months or longer, with nearly 40% indicating that their waitlists have grown in the past year.