Objective: In response to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, an initiative to rapidlytransition to a telebehavioral health (TBH) service delivery model was developed to maintainaccess to primary care behavioral health (PCBH) services at Geisinger across a wide,predominantly rural, geographic range. Methods: In line with the “Virtual First” approachemployed by the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, we describe how we preparedfor and implemented TBH services while facilitating communication and collaboration amongPCBH providers, staff, and trainees, and supported our Geisinger colleagues. Results: Wepresent operational and clinical outcomes of our approach through June 2020, as well as providersurveys of acceptability of the TBH platform used. We found that we were able to attain orsurpass comparable patient access and utilization implementing TBH services compared with inpersonservices over the last two years. We did not observe an increase in proportion of patientswith Depression and Anxiety diagnoses during the pandemic. The TBH platform was acceptableoverall based on provider ratings. Conclusion: Our Virtual First approach enabled us to maintainaccess and utilization of PCBH services during a time of widespread uncertainty andvulnerability. We conclude with a discussion of the limitations of the approach used as well asidentified next steps in navigating the “new normal” of behavioral healthcare in the age ofCOVID-19.
Chasing the curve: Program description of the Geisinger primary care behavioral health virtual first response to COVID-19.
