Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Wins Prestigious “Leaders Innovating Telehealth” Award

CHARLESTON, SC – The Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center (CDMHC) received the prestigious Leaders Innovating Telehealth (LIT) Award, honoring its outstanding work in Telehealth, at the Vidyo 2017 Healthcare Summit in Nashville, TN, held October 30 – November 1, 2017. Vidyo, which provides software-based collaboration technology, presents the LIT Award to healthcare providers that are driving national innovation in healthcare by creating greater access to and simplifying the way care is provided to patients, honoring customers whose dedication has brought meaningful change to the lives of others.

In 2016, the CDMHC partnered with Charleston County EMS, the Medical University of South Carolina, and the South Carolina Telehealth Alliance to offer on-site emergency mental health assessments in real-time for the Charleston area community.  When Charleston EMS responds to an emergency that involves a suicidal individual or an individual experiencing some form of psychiatric distress, EMS staff are able to connect with CDMHC’s Mobile Crisis team via telehealth technology, using a secure mobile tablet, allowing CDMHC clinicians to assess the patient and determine the best course of action.  With the advantage of an on-site mental health assessment, EMS staff are able to identify individuals whose treatment needs can be addressed safely in a non-hospital setting. This initiative has helped to divert a significant number of patients in psychiatric crisis from a trip to a hospital emergency room. The result is faster and more appropriate care for the patient, as well as the avoidance of unnecessary and costly emergency department care.

“This award recognizes the CDMHC telehealth program for its innovative and seamless collaboration with key healthcare organizations and for its ability to bring telehealth mental health care out into the community,” said CDMHC Executive Director Debbie Blalock. “I want to congratulate our Center staff for this incredible award and for their outstanding contributions to CDMHC and our community.” The Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center, operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (BHDD) Office of Mental Health, provides services to adults, children, and families affected by serious mental illnesses and significant emotional disorders in Charleston and Dorchester counties.

To learn more about the CDMHC Telehealth program, or other services provided by the Center, call (843) 852-4100 or visit www.charlestondorchestermhc.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2017

Contact: David Diana
Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center
843-852-4100