Riverside Health is recognizing a significant milestone as Riverside Medical Group marks five years of delivering integrated telepsychiatry services within its primary care practices—a model that continues to improve access, reduce stigma, and support the whole health of patients across the region.
Since its launch in 2020, this approach has brought licensed psychiatrists into the primary care setting through secure, virtual visits, enabling behavioral health professionals and primary care providers (PCPs) to work together in real time. Patients can schedule appointments through their PCP office and attend their sessions virtually, either from their provider's office or from home.
Over the past five years, the program has:
- Served more than 5,500 patients
- Facilitated over 24,000 visits
“As a primary care provider, I see firsthand how mental health and physical health are deeply connected,” said Dr. Eric Stone, Family Medicine Physician at Riverside Hayes Medical Center. “Having behavioral health professionals integrated into our care team allows us to treat the whole person. And with Riverside’s integrated Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and health network, we’re able to communicate seamlessly across disciplines—whether it’s with a psychiatrist, a cardiologist, or another specialist. That coordination is crucial for managing complex health conditions and ensuring medications and treatments align for both mind and body. It’s made a real difference.”
This commitment to accessible behavioral health care reflects Riverside Health’s broader mission to care for others as we would care for those we love. From early screening and intervention in primary care to around-the-clock crisis response at the Psychiatric Emergency Department at Riverside Mental Health & Recovery Center, Riverside has built a mental health care model that supports individuals at every stage of their journey.
“Whether it’s a conversation that starts during a routine primary care visit or a patient in need of urgent mental health intervention through our Psychiatric Emergency Department, we are here,” said Sally Ryan, Chief Operating Officer at Riverside Medical Group. “Our goal is to ensure that every person in our community has access to the right level of mental health care—when and where they need it.”
To learn more about Riverside Primary Care visit riversideonline.com/primarycare.