US Acute Care Solutions and Array Behavioral Care Partner to Deliver Virtual Psychiatric Care in Emergency Departments
Press Release
Jan 23, 2023
CANTON, Ohio, Jan 23, 2023 – US Acute Care Solutions (USACS), the largest physician-owned acute care practice in the nation, and Array Behavioral Care, the nation’s leading virtual psychiatry and therapy practice, today announced a strategic partnership to offer comprehensive acute medical and psychiatric care services to health systems.
With the newly formed Behavioral Emergency Stabilization and Treatment (BEST) model*, USACS and Array will unite their clinical and technological expertise to combat the growing epidemic of acute mental illness that has impacted the nation for decades.
Patients with acute psychiatric issues have significantly higher average emergency department (ED) lengths of stay and are more likely to stay in the ED for longer than 12 hours than those with other medical conditions (Simko 2022)[1]. It is not uncommon for EDs around the nation to have psychiatric patients waiting days for specialist care and transfer to appropriate institutions. The burden on psychiatric patients and their families is paralleled by the challenges posed to the health system, especially during this time of staffing and resource shortages.
The downstream result of delays in acute psychiatric care has a domino effect on non-psychiatric patient care and throughput. Array’s sophisticated virtual psychiatric care platform and clinical expertise can improve the speed of evaluation, treatment initiation and patient throughput, which improves the quality of care for all patients in the acute care space. Additionally, by using virtual technology, Array and USACS will be able to facilitate quicker access to care and further address social determinants of health.
“By combining our strengths in emergency medicine, hospital medicine and critical care with Array’s expertise in behavioral care, we can meet the physical and mental health needs of our patients and support our health system partners with a comprehensive suite of acute care services,” said Chris Hummer, Chief Executive Officer of USACS.
“Our mission at Array is to help address the nation’s mental health needs by using technology to bring licensed behavioral health clinicians to patients everywhere. Together with USACS, we can help provide holistic care to more patients in acute care setting,” said Geoffrey Boyce, Chief Executive Officer of Array.
“Health systems see the effects of undertreated mental illness in our communities firsthand. Hospitals are continuing to experience massive influxes of psychiatric patients to their emergency departments because of poor access to outpatient mental health services. This affects not just the psychiatric patients but all patients in the emergency department. If we can manage psychiatric patients through early stabilization and treatment, we can improve the quality of care and clinical operations so that all patients can be seen faster and more comprehensively,” said Dr. Matt Patlovany, President and Chief Clinical Officer of USACS.
“At Array, we aim to deliver quality and timely behavioral health, using evidence-based tools that meet patients where they are. We’re excited to see how this strategic partnership can help health systems across the nation meet the physical and mental health care needs of their community,” said Dr. Jim Varrell, Executive Chief Medical Officer of Array.
“We at USACS have already demonstrated through our Integrated Acute Care model that emergency medicine, hospital medicine and critical care working together can produce better clinical outcomes for our patients and operational outcomes for our health system partners,” added Dr. Amer Aldeen, Chief Medical Officer of USACS. “Now, we are excited to partner with the national leader in virtual psychiatric care to ensure that high-quality care includes both physical and mental health.”
About USACS
Founded by emergency medicine and hospitalist physicians across the country, USACS is solely owned by its physicians and hospital system partners. The group is a national leader in integrated acute care, including emergency medicine, hospitalist and critical care services. USACS provides high-quality care to approximately nine million patients annually across more than 500 programs and is aligned with many of the leading health systems in the country. Visit usacs.com for more.
About Array Behavioral Care
Array Behavioral Care is the nation’s leading clinician-centric virtual psychiatry and therapy practice with a mission to transform access to quality, timely behavioral health care. Array offers telepsychiatry solutions and services across the continuum of care, from hospital to home, through its OnDemand, Scheduled and AtHome divisions. For more than 20 years, Array has partnered with hundreds of hospitals and health systems, community health care organizations and payers of all sizes to expand access to care and improve outcomes for underserved individuals, facilities and communities. As an industry pioneer and established thought leader, Array has helped shape the field, define the standard of care and advocate for improved telepsychiatry-friendly regulations. To learn more, visit www.arraybc.com.
[1] Simko L, Birgisson N E, Pirrotta E A, et al. (June 02, 2022) Waiting for Care: Length of Stay for ED Mental Health Patients by Disposition, Diagnosis, and Region (2009–2015). Cureus 14(6): e25604. DOI 10.7759/cureus.25604
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Press Release
Jul 20, 2023
Houston Methodist Selects US Acute Care Solutions as System-Wide Provider of Emergency Medicine Services
Houston Methodist Selects US Acute Care Solutions as System-Wide Provider of Emergency Medicine Services CANTON, Ohio, July 20, 2023 – Effective July 19, 2023, US Acute Care Solutions (USACS), the nation’s largest physician-owned and led acute care practice, has been named the exclusive provider of emergency medicine services across the renowned Houston Methodist system. Locations include: Houston Methodist Hospital Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Houston Methodist West Houston Hospital Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center – Cinco Ranch Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center – Cypress Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center – Kirby Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center – Voss Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center – Pearland Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center – Sienna Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center – Spring Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center – The Woodlands Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center – Magnolia Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center – League City Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center – Deer Park With a reputation for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care, Houston Methodist has been named the number one hospital system in Texas and one of the premier systems in the United States consistently for many years. USACS is honored to partner with Houston Methodist in this significant capacity. Under the agreement, the physicians and advanced practice clinicians (APCs) currently caring for patients in the emergency departments of Houston Methodist will remain in their roles, and all full-time physicians will be offered the opportunity to become equity owners of USACS. This continuity of care will ensure patients maintain access to their trusted clinical team, while empowering the system’s physicians to secure their long-term future as physician-owners. Dr. Matt Patlovany, President and Chief Clinical Officer of USACS, commented on the opportunity to serve the Houston Methodist system, stating, "As a native Texan, I am acutely aware of the prestige and importance of Houston Methodist within our state. I am incredibly excited to lead this talented team of physicians and APCs in providing exceptional emergency medicine services to patients across the system. Our physician-owned and led approach puts patients at the forefront of every decision we make, and our focus will be on delivering compassionate, evidence-based care to ensure the best possible outcomes for every patient who walks through our doors." "We are pleased to partner with USACS as the provider of emergency medicine services for our entire system. We continue to provide the high-quality service to our patients and community and believe this collaboration will enhance our emergency department services, and further strengthening our ability to deliver exceptional care to our patients,” said Wayne Voss, CEO, Houston Methodist West Hospitaland executive sponsor of the hospital system’s emergency department council. Dominic J. Bagnoli, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, Executive Chair of the USACS Board of Directors said, “USACS was formed to bring the best groups in the country together to form a perpetual physician-owned organization in acute care services. We are focused on partnering with the best health systems in the country – Houston Methodist and the clinicians in the system are perfect partners in our long-term strategic vision.” USACS brings a wealth of expertise and resources to Houston Methodist, including advanced clinical protocols, innovative technology solutions, and a commitment to continuous quality improvement. This partnership will enhance the emergency medicine services provided throughout the Houston Methodist system, ensuring patients receive timely and effective care when they need it most. About USACS Founded by emergency medicine and inpatient physicians across the country, USACS is solely owned by its physicians and hospital system partners. The group is a national leader in integrated acute care, including emergency medicine, hospitalist, and critical care services. USACS provides high-quality care to approximately ten million patients annually across more than 500 programs and is aligned with many of the leading health systems in the country. Visit usacs.com for more. About Houston Methodist Houston Methodist is one of the nation’s leading health systems and academic medical centers. The health system consists of eight hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital, its flagship academic hospital in the Texas Medical Center, six community hospitals and one long-term acute care hospital throughout the Greater Houston metropolitan area. Houston Methodist also includes a research institute; a comprehensive residency program; international patient services; freestanding comprehensive care, emergency care and imaging centers; and outpatient facilities. Houston Methodist employs approximately 30,000 people and had more than 1.9 million outpatient visits and more than 138,000 admissions in 2022. U.S. News World Report has named Houston Methodist Hospital the Best Hospital in Texas for 11 years in a row. Houston Methodist is the No. 1 hospital in Texas and No. 15 in the nation. For more information about Houston Methodist, visit houstonmethodist.org. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and On Health. ### Media Contact Marty Richmond Corporate Communications Department US Acute Care Solutions 330.493.4443 x1406 [email protected]
Press Release
Jun 23, 2023
US Acute Care Solutions Names Dr. Amit Kalaria a Regional Vice President of its Northeast Division
CANTON, Ohio, June 23, 2023 –Effective July 1, 2023, US Acute Care Solutions (USACS) has named Amit Kalaria, MD, a Regional Vice President of its Northeast Division. Dr. Kalaria has held several leadership positions throughout his 17 years with USACS, most recently overseeing 14 service lines as the System Medical Director of Integrated Acute Care Services at Adventist Healthcare. As Regional Vice President, he will lead and support, both clinically and administratively, the teams and leaders of Adventist Healthcare, Meritus, and UPMC Western Maryland. “Dr. Kalaria’s peers have recognized him as a strong, decisive leader and appreciate his clear and concise approach to problem solving,” said Martin Brown, MD, FACEP, President of USACS’ Northeast Division. “He is an accomplished physician leader, and I am excited to have him join our division in this elevated capacity.” “I am honored to step into this new role,” shared Dr. Kalaria. “I look forward to working with our exceptional team of physicians, APPs, and support staff to continue providing high-quality, patient-centered care to our communities.” Dr. Kalaria is a board-certified physician leader with a track record of spearheading successful initiatives to improve the quality of care delivered across multiple service lines. He is an active member of several committees, serving as President’s Council Board Member for Adventist Healthcare, and was the physician member of both the Quality and Patient Safety Committee and the Utilization Management Committee at Western Maryland Health Systems. He also served as a member of the USACS Regional Clinical Governance Board. Dr. Kalaria earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan and received his medical degree from Michigan State University. He completed his emergency medicine residency at Northwestern University where he served as Chief Resident. About USACS Founded by emergency medicine and hospitalist physicians across the country, USACS is solely owned by its physicians and hospital system partners. The group is a national leader in integrated acute care, including emergency medicine, hospitalist and critical care services. USACS provides high-quality care to approximately nine million patients annually across more than 500 programs and is aligned with many of the leading health systems in the country. Visit usacs.com for more. ###