The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

PROJECT PURPOSE

COVID-19 changed how behavioral health services were provided. Technology was invaluable in maintaining treatment services and led to benefits warranting further integration. Those include an 89% reduction in psychiatric hospitalizations, increased patient participation in treatment, and improved service access. Not all Oklahomans have access to technology, which can be an additional burden. ODMHSAS will provide 27,500 iPads to Oklahomans suffering from Severe Mental Illness, Substance Use Disorder, etc., connecting them with treatment providers. This allows Oklahomans leaving an inpatient hospital, crisis unit, etc. to have a tablet assigned that connects with a behavioral health practitioner and has a crisis button answered 24/7 to break the cycle of crisis and reduce the use of higher levels of care. The iPads are similar to those used by law enforcement, providing connection to licensed behavioral health practitioners.

EVIDENCE

a. Since the expansion of technology for those receiving behavioral health services, ODMHSAS has seen a 900% increase in treatment services delivered virtually. Every month, 20,000 therapy sessions and over 320 hours of treatment services are provided virtually. Adding an additional 27,500 tablet devices will expand delivery and reach of treatment far greater than currently achieved with approximately 10,000 active devices.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

According to the American Psychiatric Association, ongoing stress and uncertainty of Covid-19 have led to an increased demand for mental health services- especially conditions like anxiety and depression- and substance use services. Addressing barriers to timely access to higher levels of care for both mental health and addiction services will ensure that negative behavioral health effects of Covid-19 are negated. During the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic it became crucial to deliver services in more modern and creative ways to prevent the spread of the virus. The expansion of telehealth through individually providing tablets to clients has proven not just to be a strategy to address the previous virus-related restrictions to in-person services, but also an effective, on-going method of meeting the increased demand for behavioral health services for individuals in rural areas, while maintaining confidentiality and maximizing safety for both patient and provider.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

a. ODMHSAS has a robust data collection system including real-time service monitoring. The mobile technology partner provides additional project monitoring like when technology is used, how much time is spent on each integration, and geolocation of device. At all points during project launch, implementation, and monitoring, ODMHSAS will have a real time pulse on performance and will provide technical assistance to keep the project on target.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma