Mayo Clinic Health System launches telemedicine in emergency department

Mayo Clinic Health System emergency departments at two locations in Minnesota will offer patients 24/7 access to behavioral healthcare services via telemedicine.

At Mayo Clinic Health System locations in Albert Lea and Austin, an ED physician will be able to connect patients to Behavioral Healthcare Partners providers via video conferencing. Behavioral Healthcare Partners is a Minnesota-based network of more than 5,000 behavioral health provider sites.

During the video conference, Behavioral Healthcare Partners will provide patient evaluations and treatment recommendations, including searches for inpatient beds and further appointment scheduling as needed.

"While this new service certainly benefits our patients in a timely manner, it is only an interim solution to a much bigger situation," said Tom Witt, MD, hospital and emergency medicine physician leader for Mayo Clinic Health System's hospitals in southeast Minnesota.

"The increased demand for behavioral health services reflects the general absence of these services statewide. Mayo Clinic is actively working with others on a long-term, multifaceted response to this complex issue."

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