Behavioral Health Care Navigation for Vulnerable Mental Health Populations
The University Health System’s goal is to remove barriers and gaps in psychiatric services for uninsured/under-insured and vulnerable patient populations (e.g., patients with autism (ASD), intellectual/developmental disorders (IDD), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), destructive self-harming tendencies, or trauma from being trafficked) experiencing mental health (MH) exacerbations. UT Medical Center (UTMC) received about 2,000 MH patients in 2023. Half required hospitalization, and 70% were uninsured or underinsured. Their stays were 2-5 times as long as those of other patients. They expect to improve access to care for 70% of MH patients in the first year. Improving outcomes requires a thorough understanding of the problem. Anticipated outcomes will include improved access, throughput, and utilization, increased staff knowledge, decreased stigma, gap identification, and improved treatment adherence.