Akron (Ohio) Children’s has partnered with Sonar Mental Health to provide patients with access to 24/7 chat-based well-being support, combining trained well-being coaches with AI tools that support coach consistency, safety, quality and care coordination, according to a June 24 news release from the health system.
Here are four things to know:
- Five of Akron Children’s primary care practices will be able to recommend Sonar to patients ages 13 and older starting in June, with plans to expand access across the health system.
- The platform is often recommended for youths experiencing mild to moderate stress, anxiety or sadness, as well as those who may not yet feel comfortable seeking help from a clinician, according to the release.
- This marks Sonar’s first relationship with a children’s hospital and is intended to complement Akron Children’s TABBICAT model (behavioral health Triage, Assessment, Brief Behavioral Interventions, Care Coordination and Access Tracking.
- Akron Children’s providers may recommend the platform as a supplement to therapy, for after-hours support and between appointments. According to the release, 77% of Sonar conversations occur late at night or early in the morning. The health system and Sonar also plan to implement a research study to assess Sonar’s role within the health system’s TABBICAT model.
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