Arundel lodge ccbhc expansion and behavioral health urgent care clinic project propose to add an urgent care behavioral health clinic (uccbh) to its comprehensive continuum of services for the…

Arundel lodge ccbhc expansion and behavioral health urgent care clinic project propose to add an urgent care behavioral health clinic (uccbh) to its comprehensive continuum of services for the treatment of persons with mental health and substance use disorders. Uccbh will be staffed by 3 nurse practitioners operating 12 hours per day (9:30AM to 9:30PM) and 7 days per week that will assess and initiate treatment on a walk-in or virtual basis for 2700 persons in its first 2 years. In addition, arundel lodge will develop with one of its IT vendors a data warehouse that will passively mine our EMR and general ledger for actionable data regarding clinical outputs, outcomes and costs. This will strengthen our participation in systems with value-based compensation. Arundel lodge seeks to expand to a certified community behavioral health center by developing a comprehensive behavioral health urgent care center operating 12 hour per day and 7 days per week. Mental health issues are rising very rapidly. In a needs assessment completed in 2018 IT was determined there has been a 70 percent increase in residents seeking public mental health services since 2012; 16,343 medicaid and uninsured residents were served by the behavioral healthcare providers in 2018. The two highest percentage increases in residents served are the early childhood population and those over 65. Services identified by the needs assessment for persons with mental health and substance use disorders include: further support for the mental health agency's very successful crisis intervention system and rapid engagement in outpatient treatment with urgent care clinics. The ucbhc will fill an important GAP in the crisis system of anne arundel county. Currently, the crisis system does not initiate treatment and needs to refer to outpatient mental health and substance use providers. Arundel lodge has been the most responsive provider through its same day access for diagnostic evaluation. The urgent care clinic will be able to go beyond this step and immediately initiate treatment during the crisis. During the screening, assessment, and diagnosis a RN will identify emergency medical issues that need to managed by luminus/aamc ED and identify follow-up referrals for primary and specialty care. A licensed behavioral health professional will conduct a thorough and integrated evaluation for mental health and substance use disorders that includes a risk assessment. A nurse practitioner will also be available to conduct a medication evaluation for those persons who would benefit from mat or psychopharmacology.