The health system will implement a Collaborative Care program with the help of Concert Health to support primary care providers in identifying and treating patients with behavioral health conditions.
SACRAMENTO & SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Sutter Health today announced a new collaboration that will enhance behavioral health care services for patients by making treatment more timely and accessible. Beginning in January, Sutter will coordinate with Concert Health to co-manage treatment for patients who experience a broad range of behavioral health disorders, including anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder. The service will initially be available to patients in four Northern California cities.
“Supporting improved access to mental health services is one of our top priorities here at Sutter,” said Tam Nguyen, clinical psychologist and behavioral health service line executive at Sutter Health. “We appreciate the opportunity to work alongside like-minded organizations to help increase mental health treatment capacity and offer people an option that is easy to access. Making these services a routine part of medical care has been shown to improve both outcomes and the patient experience, so we’re pleased to make this available through primary care.”
Through this collaboration, patients who report a behavioral health concern to their primary care provider will be connected with Concert Health via phone or video within 24 to 48 hours to monitor symptoms and medications and provide evidence-based counseling interventions. With a focus on providing a holistic view of patient health, Concert Health’s psychiatric providers will review patient cases regularly, provide feedback and guidance to the behavioral health team, and make specific treatment recommendations to the Sutter primary care providers.
To start, Concert Health will receive patient referrals from Sutter primary care practices located in Lakeport, Crescent City, Palo Alto and Dublin, Calif. The collaboration between Sutter and Concert Health is particularly important in rural Lakeport and Crescent City, where it is difficult to recruit and retain mental health providers, leaving patients with less access to care.
“This collaboration reinforces our commitment to delivering integrated, patient-centered care,” said Dan Peterson, CEO of Sutter Health’s behavioral health service line. “By embedding behavioral health into primary care settings, we can enhance access and deliver timely support for those in our care, addressing their physical and mental health needs together.”
The collaboration between Sutter and Concert Health will use the Collaborative Care Model, an evidence-based approach designed to significantly improve access to mental health care. This team-based model integrates the expertise of primary care providers, psychiatric consultants, and behavioral care managers to support patients and manage treatment more effectively. The Collaborative Care Model has been shown to significantly improve clinical outcomes while reaching more people at scale.
“Millions of Americans urgently need mental health support, and the demand for affordable, accessible care has never been greater,” said Dr. Anthony Sossong, chief medical officer at Concert Health. “We’re excited to collaborate with Sutter Health to help close the gap between physical and behavioral healthcare, helping increase patients’ access to these essential services.”
