Becker's Healthcare November 26, 2025
Behavioral health faces a range of challenges — and top among them is access. Patients can linger on appointment waitlists for months or be caught in a referral backlog. During the limbo, patient conditions can worsen, driving them to seek crisis care in an emergency department.
For Karen McNeely, DNP, APRN-BC, chief APP service line and program director of the APP fellowship at Jacksonville, Fla.-based Baptist Health, this was unacceptable. With 270 primary care physicians, 61 offices and only 40 providers, about 50 therapists and 31 behavioral health offices, Baptist Health turned to the collaborative care model. It saw significant gains, including a 30% decrease in behavioral health referrals.
“We have way too many people needing behavioral health...
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