Acute Needs, ACUTE Response: Development and Delivery of a Mental Health Urgent Care in the Bronx.

Abstract

As mental health needs rise, creative and timely solutions are essential. Leveraging the expansion and flexibility of virtual services to create telehealth and hybrid offerings is crucial for addressing systemic barriers in mental health, enhancing accessibility, and providing flexible, comprehensive care options for diverse patient populations. This article discusses the development of a mental health urgent care program within a large medical system in a densely populated, under-resourced community. The program was designed to address common community mental health barriers across multiple care entry points, including ambulatory settings, emergency care, and consultation services. Using a multipronged approach, this program aims to improve patient access, care continuity, and outcomes. The authors encourage others to consider adopting a similar programmatic infrastructure to reduce mental health care barriers in their communities.