Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Hackensack Integrates UC, Behavioral Health

In New Jersey, Hackensack Meridian Health is now offering its HMH Urgent Care, which integrates behavioral health with same-day urgent care and telemedicine visits. According to Becker’s Hospital Review, it’s the first urgent care that simultaneously provides both immediate medical care and services for psychiatric conditions as part of a strategy to reduce emergency department visits. The HMH Urgent Care suite includes short-term outpatient care for those 16 years and older to address anxiety, depression, mood …

Eskenazi Health Combines Urgent Care With a Range of Services

To adapt to the increased demand for urgent care (UC), Eskenazi Health in Indiana has evolved its clinics into hybrid centers that offer urgent care, primary care, and specialty care, including behavioral health, according to the Indy Star. Providers who typically see patients with seasonal respiratory viruses and other UC-appropriate concerns have regularly addressed mental health crises and referred patients to specialist care. The news outlet reports that provider shortages are driving consumers to urgent …

More Kids Show Up in EDs With Behavioral Health Emergencies

A recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that school-age kids from 10 to 17 experience more emergency department (ED) visits during the school year than during summer break for behavioral health conditions such as depressive disorders, suicidal ideation, or self-harm. For some disorders, the visits double during the school year. In communities, the lack of mental health resources for kids in immediate need is clear. One emergency …