The Crisis Stabilization Project (3.a.ii) within DSRIP is meant to provide readily accessible behavioral  health crisis services that will allow access to appropriate levels of service and providers, supporting a rapid de-escalation of the patient’s crisis. MHVC held a Webinar on January 26th to share the Cross-PPS Crisis Stabilization Paper (recorded webinar can be found here). The team welcomes feedback on adopting these behavioral health crisis protocols at your organizations.

It is one of the most complex DSRIP projects in terms of stakeholders, funding streams, and lasting challenges in healthcare. MHVC is part of a dynamic collaboration of three PPSs — MHVC, Westchester Medical Center (WMC), and Refuah Community Health Collaboration — that was formed to take on this challenge. The results to date have not only made an impact within the region, but can potentially impact the way crisis services are delivered in other parts of the country. A copy of the January 30, 2017, report can be viewed here.

The three PPSs are approaching this project in a unified, collective way. “Partner engagement, passion and true collaboration between the three PPSs form a strong foundation for our success in developing an integrated crisis system in the Hudson Valley,” says Kristin Woodlock, RN, consultant to MHVC for this project and former Acting Commissioner for NYS OMH. “The PPSs really listened to its partners when designing the project.” Partners of each PPS wanted the three groups to work together to form a holistic approach to crisis services in the region.

Over 40 partners participated in developing the foundation of the project and in producing an exhaustive report on the honest opportunities and challenges of the project. This collaborative effort sets foundations for community-based solutions with better outcomes and reduced burden on our provider partners. The project highlights the power of three PPSs to talk to state government about what needs to change, and to be a template for other regions in the state and other parts of the country.

“The intent is to make the recommendations understandable to others that make up the BH crisis system, such as police, EMT services, and even ‘community gatekeepers’ who can play an important role in the early identification of people in crisis,” says Dr. Damara Gutnick, MHVC Medical Director. Looking beyond DSRIP, the report outlines long-term, collective efforts that can support pilots and hot-spots.