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The first medically-integrated urgent care center with behavioral health systems in the country opened Friday in Neptune, according to Hackensack Meridian Health officials, celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The health network has announced the Emergency Care Center as part of its strategy to improve the access and treatment of people with mental health and addictions issues.
"Brain health should not be treated differently than physical health," said former representative Patrick Kennedy, an advocate for access to mental health services, who joined the leaders of the Ministry of Health. 39, hospital and other political leaders at the ceremony. "This is the discrimination outlined."
Patients at the new center will have access to a behavioral health team consisting of mental health technicians, registered clinical social workers, advanced practice nurses and a psychiatrist who can be contacted through telemedicine, which will allows health professionals to assess, diagnose and treat patients. through technological communications.
"What I love about this center is that it's really a model of what we need more at the national level," Kennedy said.
Robert Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, said the hospital system is a simple concept that other hospitals and health care groups can easily adapt, as the health network has expanded and modernized its health center existing emergency.
In the United States, one in five adults is living with a mental health problem and 60% of people with mental health problems did not receive care last year, according to a statement released on Monday. opening of this newspaper.
"The addition of psychology to urgent care services allows us to treat patients with behavioral health problems in the most stigmatizing and threatening way possible," said Donald Parker, President of Carrier Clinic and Services. behavioral health care network transformation.
"It is difficult for a general practitioner to have the time and the ability to handle psychological problems when a patient passes the door of his home," he said. "We need equal levels of skills in urgent care and this concept does just that, addressing physical and psychological health issues in the same way."
Hospital officials also indicated that they expect to see significant financial benefits from the center, as emergency room visits help to increase health care costs.
"We think it's a new concept across the country. [as the first]Garrett said. "We hope others will follow suit and truly embrace the concept of urgent behavioral health care."
The Emergency Care Center is located at 2040 Route 33, Neptune, across from the Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore Medical Center.
Brianna Kudisch can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @briannakudisch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.
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