Safety Net Connect (SNC), a leading provider of innovative web-based healthcare solutions for organizations assisting underserved populations, is pleased to announce that L.A. Care Health Plan (L.A. Care) is expanding the eManagement system to connect community-based physicians with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LADMH).

L.A. Care will provide over 200 private practice physicians with direct, electronic communication to LADMH through the eManagement system developed by SNC. In addition to improving access and care coordination with behavioral health providers, the platform will facilitate early identification and triaging of patients with depression – the most prevalent mental health disorder in primary care.

“We are excited to expand and expedite access to quality mental health care for our members,” shares L.A. Care CEO John Baackes. “Mental and physical health are inextricably linked – to be successful we must provide a holistic and closely coordinated approach to care management. With this technology we can help facilitate the communication necessary for better care, while reducing barriers for primary and specialty care physicians – and for their patients.”

With this system, primary care physicians (PCPs) treating L.A. Care patients will be able to quickly access LADMH providers with electronic peer-to-peer consultations (eConsults) for inquiries on treatment guidelines or medication management. In addition, integrated assessments – including the Patient Health Questionnaire or “PHQ” – enable PCPs to screen patients for depression and other conditions during their appointment, in the trusted environment of their medical home.

If a referral for mental health services is appropriate, PCPs can simply and expeditiously connect patients with the right provider for their needs – and prioritize referral for patients who are at higher risk. The assessment scores and key elements of the patient history accompany the electronic referral – ensuring a more informed and effective first visit with the behavioral specialist.

“Mental health providers and primary care physicians have long recognized the need for more coordinated care – but the day-to-day barriers of our healthcare system have made that exceedingly difficult,” shares Chris Cruttenden, President of SNC. “We’re honored to partner in this unique public/private initiative that improves access and makes physician-to-physician communication truly scalable; it’s exciting to see the potential of technology applied in such a meaningful area.”

About L.A. Care

L.A. Care Health Plan (Local Initiative Health Authority of Los Angeles County) is a public entity and community-accountable health plan serving residents of Los Angeles County through a variety of health coverage programs including L.A. Care Covered™, Medi-Cal, L.A. Care Cal MediConnect Plan, L.A. Care's Healthy Kids and PASC-SEIU Homecare Workers Health Care Plan. L.A. Care is a leader in developing new programs through innovative partnerships designed to provide health coverage to vulnerable populations and to support the safety net. With more than 2 million members, L.A. Care is the nation's largest publicly operated health plan. http://www.lacare.org/

About Safety Net Connect

Since 2009, Safety Net Connect (SNC) has been a leading creator of healthcare technology that makes it easier for providers and institutions to increase access to care, streamline care coordination, promote evidence-based practices, and improve quality. With a mission to improve health equity, SNC has helped public and private healthcare organizations across the nation successfully reach over 5 million low-income, underserved individuals with affordable, effective patient-centered care. For more information, please visit www.safetynetconnect.com.