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Array Behavioral Care's New Care Pathways: A Game Changer in Mental Health Treatment

In an era where mental health services are increasingly in demand, the inconsistency in treatment delivery has posed significant challenges for patients and healthcare practitioners alike. Array Behavioral Care, the leading virtual behavioral health provider in the nation, has taken a groundbreaking step forward with the unveiling of its Care Pathways—an innovative and structured approach to treatment aimed at enhancing patient outcomes and ensuring that care is both timely and personalized.

What Are Care Pathways?

Care Pathways are a proprietary model launched by Array that establishes a scalable framework for mental health treatment. This model is designed to standardize care delivery and align it closely with patients' needs throughout their treatment journey—from initial stabilization to ongoing maintenance and eventual discharge. The goal of this model is to eliminate variability in treatment that too often results in unpredictable patient outcomes.

The Need for Standardization

Despite the increasing need for mental health services, the delivery of care remains inconsistent. Clinicians within the same health systems can have drastically different approaches to managing conditions such as major depressive disorder, resulting in mixed outcomes for patients. This disparity often stems from a limited adoption of measurement-based care, which is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of treatment plans. Hence, healthcare organizations struggle to ensure effective and efficient care.

Key Features of Care Pathways

Array's Care Pathways integrate standardized clinical assessments, which consider various factors, including medical en psychiatric histories, co-occurring conditions, medication history, and social determinants of health. By employing these multifaceted assessments, the model matches each patient with the appropriate level of care at precisely the right time. This approach not only defines the type of provider necessary—whether a therapist, psychiatrist, or both—but also allows for adjustments in treatment based on structured reassessments reflecting the patient's progress.

Improved Outcomes Through a Unified Practice Model

One of the distinct advantages of Array's Care Pathways is its operational model. Unlike traditional practices that often consist of independent contractors, Array employs its clinicians as W2 employees. This arrangement fosters greater efficiency, consistency in care, and more predictable costs, ultimately improving patient outcomes and addressing the growing demand for behavioral health services more effectively.

Dr. Sara Gotheridge, Array's Chief Medical Officer, emphasizes the significance of this integration: "Care Pathways represent the full potential of a clinically grounded, tech-enabled practice model. By harmonizing clinical indicators with a diverse range of treatment options, we can accurately align every patient with the care they require at the right time."

Technology at Its Core

The tech-enabled framework of Care Pathways is powered by the Epic platform, making Array the only nationally scaled virtual behavioral health practice fully leveraging this tool. This integration allows seamless data exchange, real-time tracking of outcomes, and efficient clinical workflows to ensure that patients are always receiving the highest quality of care.

Benefits for Health Providers

The introduction of Care Pathways is set to provide hospitals, health systems, health plans, and primary care providers with a trusted virtual referral and discharge solution. It can support patients after inpatient care, bridge gaps in outpatient services, or offer a robust referral pathway for various health practices. The model reduces unnecessary emergency department visits and readmissions while controlling costs and furthering value-based objectives throughout the healthcare system.

Conclusion

Array Behavioral Care’s Care Pathways marks a transformative development in the realm of virtual mental health services. By focusing on a structured and personalized approach to treatment, Array ensures that patients receive not only effective care but also a consistent experience throughout their journey to recovery. As mental health continues to gain recognition as a critical component of overall health, innovations like the Care Pathways model are essential in establishing a more equitable and efficient healthcare landscape.

For further information on Care Pathways or the extensive virtual behavioral health services provided by Array, please visit arraybc.com.