The hospital’s behavioral health strategy will prioritize seven initiatives, according to a Dec. 7 news release from the health system:
- Training primary care physicians on diagnosing and treating patients with mental health issues and hiring more psychiatrists and behavioral health specialists.
- Putting psychologists at all its pediatric primary care clinics in the state’s Fort Bend County, the Houston area and the cities of Austin and College Station. These providers will conduct screenings, answer behavioral health questions and coordinate care with the children’s other providers.
- Forming an outpatient program to lessen strain on crisis centers, inpatient units and emergency departments.
- Hiring more specialized staff at the hospital’s emergency centers.
- Build new and renovate existing care areas to improve patient, family and staff safety.
- Teaching staff to identify warning signs of suicide.
- Training clinical and administrative staff on suicide response and prevention.
“Meeting this overwhelming demand requires a multidisciplinary approach and a communitywide effort,” Mark Wallace, CEO and president of Texas Children’s, said in the release. “In addition, we are working with state government sources and with Medicaid to educate legislators and insurance providers about the importance of appropriate reimbursement.”