To address a shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists in Ohio, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and provider organizations across the state have launched Pediatric Psychiatry Network, an easy-access consultation and support service for primary care physicians.
The purpose of the network is to help primary care doctors deliver and coordinate care for Ohio’s youth by providing timely and direct answers to physician questions regarding mental health diagnosis and treatment.
“Ohio youth with psychiatric disorders and their primary care physicians have had critical problems gaining access to needed care,” said Marion E. Sherman, MD, medical director at the Ohio Department of Mental Health. “This network provides rapid access to professional resources for consultations.”
The network provides primary care physicians the ability to access child and adolescent psychiatry decision support, education and triage services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Future services are planned to include consultations using video, e-visits and telemedicine.
The network of providers is linked through technology and can be accessed through a common call-center number and website. The technology infrastructure and clinical protocols were developed using Ohio’s Transformation State Incentive Grant (TSIG) funds from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Network providers taking calls include Akron Children’s Hospital, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Toledo Children’s Hospital and University of Toledo. Additional network development support was received through Wright State University, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals/Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.
To request a consultation, Ohio primary care physicians may call 1-877-PSY-OHIO or complete a request form at www.pedpsychiatry.org.
Family members needing access to psychiatry support should contact their primary care physicians.
The purpose of the network is to help primary care doctors deliver and coordinate care for Ohio’s youth by providing timely and direct answers to physician questions regarding mental health diagnosis and treatment.
“Ohio youth with psychiatric disorders and their primary care physicians have had critical problems gaining access to needed care,” said Marion E. Sherman, MD, medical director at the Ohio Department of Mental Health. “This network provides rapid access to professional resources for consultations.”
The network provides primary care physicians the ability to access child and adolescent psychiatry decision support, education and triage services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Future services are planned to include consultations using video, e-visits and telemedicine.
The network of providers is linked through technology and can be accessed through a common call-center number and website. The technology infrastructure and clinical protocols were developed using Ohio’s Transformation State Incentive Grant (TSIG) funds from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Network providers taking calls include Akron Children’s Hospital, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Toledo Children’s Hospital and University of Toledo. Additional network development support was received through Wright State University, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals/Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.
To request a consultation, Ohio primary care physicians may call 1-877-PSY-OHIO or complete a request form at www.pedpsychiatry.org.
Family members needing access to psychiatry support should contact their primary care physicians.