TY  - JOUR
AU  - Nataliansyah, M Muska
AU  - Merchant, Kimberly A S
AU  - Vakkalanka, J Priyanka
AU  - Mack, Luke
AU  - Parsons, Seth
AU  - Ward, Marcia M
PY  - 2023
DA  - 2023/3/20
TI  - Virtual Partnership Addressing Mental Health Crises: Mixed Methods Study of a Coresponder Program in Rural Law Enforcement
JO  - JMIR Ment Health
SP  - e42610
VL  - 10
KW  - mental health
KW  - telehealth
KW  - rural health
KW  - coresponder model
KW  - implementation
KW  - mixed methods
KW  - community
KW  - technology
KW  - virtual care
AB  - Background: A mental health crisis can create challenges for individuals, families, and communities. This multifaceted issue often involves different professionals from law enforcement and health care systems, which may lead to siloed and suboptimal care. The virtual crisis care (VCC) program was developed to provide rural law enforcement with access to behavioral health professionals and facilitated collaborative care via telehealth technology. Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the implementation and use of a VCC program from a telehealth hub for law enforcement in rural areas. Methods: This study used a mixed methods approach. The quantitative data came from the telehealth hub’s electronic record system. The qualitative data came from in-depth interviews with law enforcement in the 18 counties that adopted the VCC program. Results: Across the 181 VCC encounters, the telehealth hub's recommended disposition and the actual disposition were similar for remaining in place (n=141, 77.9%, and n=137, 75.7%, respectively), voluntary admission (n=9, 5.0%, and n=10, 5.5%, respectively), and involuntary committal (IVC; n=27, 14.9%, and n=19, 10.5%, respectively). Qualitative insights related to the VCC program's implementation, use, benefits, and challenges were identified, providing a comprehensive view of the virtual partnership between rural law enforcement and behavioral health professionals. Conclusions: Use of a VCC program likely averts unnecessary IVCs. Law enforcement interviews affirmed the positive impact of VCC due to its ease of use and the benefits it provides to the individuals in need, the first responders involved, law enforcement resources, and the community. 
SN  - 2368-7959
UR  - https://mental.jmir.org/2023/1/e42610
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/42610
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36939827
DO  - 10.2196/42610
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/42610
ER  -