Culmore Clinic is honored to be one of twelve new referral clinics welcomed by the Virginia Telemental Health Initiative's (VTMHI) newly launched program that offers statewide virtual free mental healthcare to eligible uninsured or under-insured Virginians like our patients. Below is the press release from VTMHI announcing this exciting launch just in time for Mental Health Awareness Month!
RICHMOND, Va., May 14, 2024 – After a successful pilot phase, the Virginia Telemental Health Initiative (VTMHI), a pioneering program offering free and convenient telemental health services to eligible un- or under-insured Virginians, has become the Commonwealth's first-ever statewide virtual free mental health clinic.
As a virtual clinic, VTMHI collaborates with volunteer pre-licensed mental health providers in the process of completing licensure to provide teletherapy services to eligible patients who are referred by participating free and charitable clinics. The VTMHI model both expands access to mental health services and strengthens Virginia’s mental health workforce.
The pilot originally launched in December 2022.
“We’re so grateful to our partners and volunteers who took part in the program’s successful inaugural year of service. They helped to build an innovative structure that is putting mental health services within the reach of Virginians who otherwise could not afford or access it,” said Mara Servaites, Executive Director of VTMHI. “It’s the first model we know of in the U.S. with a dual mission of providing free mental health services to medically underserved populations virtually while also supporting the next generation of mental health providers with the licensure process so they can enter the workforce faster. We learned during our first year that this new concept works, and we’re now poised for growth by bringing on additional referring clinics to serve more Virginians.”
Since its inception, VTMHI has scheduled nearly 2,000 telemental health sessions with an average of 11 days between referral and a patient's first appointment – a dramatic improvement compared to the average wait time of three months or longer, according to the American Psychological Association’s 2023 Practitioner Pulse Survey.
Making this all possible, during the inaugural year, were 43 volunteer pre-licensed mental health professionals supported by six clinical supervisors to provide pro bono services to patients across ten participating free and charitable clinics.
In 2024, VTMHI will invite 30 new Virginia clinics to join the program and will collaborate with an additional 75 volunteer mental health professionals.
“Since the launch of VTMHI, we have been able to offer an initial counseling visit to patients within 24 hours in most cases. This has been immensely helpful for patients who have recently been discharged from inpatient psychiatric care or have a more urgent need,” said Shannon Raybuck, Mental Health Care Coordinator at Fauquier Free Clinic. “This partnership allows these patients to engage quickly in services to address concerns such as substance use and anger management.”
This year, VTMHI has welcomed twelve new referring clinics, including:
ADAMS Compassionate Healthcare Network (Chantilly)
Augusta Regional Dental Clinic
Blue Ridge Free Clinic (Harrisonburg)
Culmore Clinic (Falls Church)
Free Clinic of Culpeper
Free Clinic of Powhatan
Goochland Cares
Greene Care Clinic (Stanardsville)
Guadalupe Free Clinic (Colonial Beach)
Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinic (Woodbridge)
Ohlen R. Wilson (Galax)
Sinclair Health Clinic (Winchester)
The new clinics join existing partners Bradley Free Clinic (Roanoke), Brock Hughes Medical Center (Wytheville), Charlottesville Free Clinic, CrossOver Healthcare Ministry (Richmond and Henrico), Fauquier Free Clinic, Free Clinic of Franklin County/Bernard Healthcare Center, Health Brigade (Richmond), Ledwith-Lewis Free Clinic (Tappahannock), Page Free Clinic (Luray), and Shenandoah Community Health Clinic (Woodstock).
“Virginia’s free and charitable clinics have seen a 10% increase in patient demand for mental health care services,” said Rufus Phillips, the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics CEO. “Partnering with VTMHI has helped put qualified mental health resources just a click away for many Virginians in need who have traditionally experienced barriers preventing them from accessing services. We’re proud of the increased access VTMHI has accomplished over the past year and look forward to working with them to expand this crucial resource.”
Under the leadership of theVirginia Telehealth Network, the program is made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, the University of Virginia Karen S. Rheuban Center for Telehealth, the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center, and VTMHI’s volunteers and free clinic participants.
Interested patients can contact free and charitable clinics directly to determine their eligibility and make appointments. For more information, visit https://virginiatelementalhealth.org/accesscare/.
To learn more about VTMHI, visit https://virginiatelementalhealth.org/.
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About the Virginia Telemental Health Initiative
The Virginia Telemental Health Initiative (VTMHI) is a 501c3 nonprofit and first-of-its-kind statewide virtual free mental health clinic that provide telemental health services to un- and under-insured patients by collaborating with Virginia’s free and charitable clinics and pre-licensed mental health providers in the process of completing licensure.
About the Virginia Telehealth Network
The Virginia Telehealth Network (VTN) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting telehealth efforts in the Commonwealth. Started in 2006 by a group of health providers with an interest in promoting telehealth, VTN seeks to provide education, resources, and best practices to users of telehealth while advocating for safe and effective delivery of telehealth services. In addition, VTN develops and maintains strong partnerships that allow for the exploration and promotion of innovative programs that promote access to high-quality health care via telehealth.
Photos courtesy of Virginia Telemental Health Initiative.
