By Richard Craver Winston-Salem Journal
DayMark Recovery Services, a provider of behavioral health services in the Triad and statewide, has received a $391,498 grant to bolster telemedicine access in rural communities.
DayMark has its Forsyth County offices in the Cardinal Wellness Center at 650 Highland Ave., Suite 100, in Winston-Salem.
The grant is particularly geared toward assisting individuals with mental health and substance abuse disorders who also are being treated for opioid addiction.
DayMark’s Telehealth program debuted in 2006 and now covers 30 counties. The provider says telepsychiatry has helped reduce the negative impacts of substance and mental illnesses on local jails and emergency rooms.
The provider’s program served about 50,000 patients in fiscal year 2017-18. About 20,650 received medication during 61,834 medical visits, while 7,072 of these patients received 18,875 telehealth visits.
“These services have been crucial,” said Billy West, DayMark’s chief executive.
“We are able to ensure patients receive immediate and high-quality psychiatric care even during a nationwide psychiatrist shortage. Our goal is to treat a patient before they are in crisis.”
The Agriculture Department’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program provided the funding.
“Empowering rural Americans with access to services for quality of life and economic development is critical to rural prosperity,” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said in a statement.
Article Reference: DayMark receives grant to provide telepsychiatry services to people suffering from mental health and substance abuse disorders
