By Steve
Gamel
Mental health continues to be a hot-button
topic, and the comforting news is that North Texas residents and their loved
ones are supported by a seemingly limitless list of mental health service
providers. One of those providers, Connections Wellness Group, recently took
its innovative continuity of care model to the next level.
Starting with one location in Denton in 2018,
the growing provider of behavioral and mental health services now has 18
clinics across Texas and Tennessee, with plans to add more locations in 2024
under a newly formed platform company, Blended Health. The group announced it
has merged with Integrated Addiction Care and Vertava Health of Tennessee and
will now be known as Blended Health. Blended Health will continue to operate
in Texas under the consumer-facing brand Connections Wellness Group – A
Blended Health Company.
“The
creation of Blended Health will directly benefit our patients’ journeys to
health and well-being,” said Dr. Debra Atkisson, divisional medical director.
“This merger creates flexible, high-quality, and accessible behavioral health
care for adolescents and adults, connecting them with clinicians who will
support them in living their best lives.”
Blended health will also primarily emphasize
group services consisting of partial hospitalization programs (PHP) and
intensive outpatient programs (IOP). Regional Executive Director Shanna Dugan
added, “By expanding access to outpatient behavioral health care, we can
create a healthier society. Blended Health will do just that, through the
provision of innovative and flexible care, making a lasting impact on the
lives of our patients, their loved ones, and their
communities.”
Mental
Health Support is Vital
Many
Americans experiencing mental health challenges seeking treatment wait up to
three months to receive treatment, and fewer than 50% of adults and 70% of
adolescents experiencing mental challenges receive treatment. That’s where
Connections Wellness Group is changing the mental health care wheel. The idea
is that with one phone call, a patient can receive comprehensive mental
health services for depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, substance
abuse, and anything that impacts how they think, feel, and
act.
Once someone asks for help, they should never
be turned away due to long wait lists, prohibitive costs, or services that
don’t meet their needs. The localized IOP and PHP programs provide access and
can help avoid and prevent crises and reduce the medical costs incurred by
local hospital emergency rooms. This allows for a more intensive therapy
option from traditional mental health care and a local step down from inpatient care.
Programs are offered during both the day and
evening.
A Robust
Team
Blended Health employs one of the largest
teams with over 400 team members, including more than 300 medical
psychiatrists, psychiatric physician assistants, advanced psychiatric nurse
practitioners, and licensed clinical therapists, offering onsite and virtual
treatment in medication management and group and individual
therapy.
Making lasting improvements in a person’s
mental health requires the assistance of trained professionals. If you or a
family member is struggling with mental health, don’t wait to ask for
help.
CONTACT
12
Locations Serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
Visit connectionswellnessgroup.com
for one near you
