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TUKWILA, Wash. — Behaviorial health pharmacy Genoa has surpassed 100,000 patient visits through its telepsychiatry platform.
Genoa said it reached the milestone via rapid expansion of the Genoa Telepsychiatry service. In 2017, Genoa’s telepsychiatry operations grew from 20 states to 35 states, and its provider base more than doubled from 100 to over 250. The number patients serve also surged from 600 per week to more than 2,500 per week.
The Genoa Telepsychiatry video conferencing software connects its network of hundreds of psychiatrists to mental health patients in a range of settings, including inpatient units, residential settings, community mental health centers and primary care clinics.
“The need is clear. One in five Americans has a mental illness, and one in 17 has what is considered a serious and persistent mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or clinical depression. Getting care quickly can be a matter of life and death,” Samir Malik, general manager of Genoa Telepsychiatry, said in a statement. “Unfortunately, more than 80 million Americans live in areas that do not have enough psychiatrists. This shortage contributes to nearly 60% of individuals who have an active mental illness failing to seek care.”
According to Genoa, the time a patient has to wait for an appointment shrinks 20% to 30% using the Genoa Telepsychiatry platform. Since a computer, a webcam and high-speed Internet is all that’s needed, the service can reach underserved areas of the country. In addition, the technology integrates workflows and streamlines care communication by lessening the need for emails, faxes and text messages.
“Eighty-five percent of our patients come back for follow-up visits. They really appreciate the service,” Malik added. “By empowering patients with greater choice in location and time, telepsychiatry helps tear down treatment barriers and reduce stigma — a key factor that keeps many from ever seeking care.”
Genoa launched its telepsychiatry service with the acquisition of 1DocWay Inc., the nation’s largest outpatient telepsychiatry provider, in late 2015.
Overall, Genoa operates more than 390 pharmacies on site at community mental health centers in 44 states and the District of Columbia. The company provides pharmacy services, telepsychiatry and medication management solutions to more than 630,000 people and fills more than 13 million prescriptions annually.
