Tampa General Hospital Continues Investment in Behavioral Health Through a Partnership to Expand Access to Mental Health Services

A collaboration with evolvedMD integrates licensed mental health providers into Tampa
General Medical Group locations to make
behavioral health care more convenient and accessible.

TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa General Hospital (TGH) partnered with Scottsdale, Arizona-based evolvedMD, a nationally recognized company that integrates Psychiatric Collaborative Care Management (CoCM) in primary care settings, to expand access to behavioral health services for patients. Tampa General will embed evolvedMD behavioral health providers (licensed social workers and counselors) within select Tampa General Medical Group (TGMG) primary care locations. This primary care-focused, collaborative approach has demonstrated better overall health outcomes and reduced burnout for providers. This collaboration with Tampa General is the first partnership for evolvedMD and an academic health system in Florida.

"There are so many conversations about the need for mental health care, and we believe that it is imperative to use our resources as an academic health system to bring a solution directly to our patients," said Dr. Karna Patel, vice president, Tampa General Hospital and president, Tampa General Medical Group. "Primary care is at the heart of patient health and wellness. By focusing our efforts in this setting, we are improving the overall care our patients receive, giving our providers the tools they need to address their patients' health holistically."

Licensed behavioral health managers will provide behavioral health services within a TGMG primary care office in consultation with a psychiatrist. Typically, a primary care physician will refer a patient to a therapist or counselor. The care team will be able to identify more complex patients that require a higher level of care and provide referrals and information to facilitate those care journeys. A care navigator can coordinate resources and treatment plan logistics for followup care. Behavioral health services are defined by the American Medical Association as the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders, life stressors and crises, and stress-related physical symptoms under the supervision of a primary care provider.

"The Florida Hospital Association ranked our state as #1 in the U.S. for Adult Prevalence of Mental Illness, making the need for high-quality, accessible mental health care one of the most urgent unmet needs in today's treatment landscape," said Elan Melamed, vice president, Ambulatory Care Transitions, Tampa General Hospital. "Our approach addresses a significant treatment gap in our region by providing critical behavioral health services, facilitating access to psychiatrists, psychologists and other services for those who need more advanced care."

Tampa General Medical Group began rolling out its expanded behavioral health program to select offices in October 2024, beginning in the TGMG primary care office at the TGH Diagnostic Center in St. Petersburg. Planned to cover Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties, future locations include TGMG Carrollwood in Tampa, and TGMG Healthpark in the East Tampa area in 2024 and the establishment of additional locations in 2025, including planned integration at primary care practices in St. Petersburg, Carrollwood and Tampa General's Family Care Healthpark in East Tampa by the end of the year.

"As a national leader in behavioral health integration, evolvedMD is excited to partner with an innovative and forward-thinking organization like Tampa General Hospital that understands that the trusted space of a primary care office is a prime opportunity to work with patients on their behavioral health journey," said Erik Osland, CEO of evolvedMD. "This collaboration is a huge win for the many patients of Tampa General, bringing the reality of holistic wellness closer to home."

Interested patients should speak with their Tampa General Medical Group primary care provider to arrange services. In-person and virtual visits with a therapist or counselor are available and are covered by most insurances.

ABOUT evolvedMD
Launched in 2017, evolvedMD is leading the integration of behavioral health services in modern primary care. Uniquely upfront and ongoing, our distinctive model places behavioral health specialists onsite within a practice. evolvedMD offers an economically viable and better way to integrate behavioral health that ultimately drives improved patient outcomes.

ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL
Tampa General Hospital, a 981-bed, not-for-profit, academic health system, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2024-2025 Best Hospitals, with two medical specialties ranking among the top 20 in the nation and eight medical specialties ranking among the top 50 best hospital programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic health system's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by three prestigious Forbes magazine rankings – in the top 100 nationally in the 2024 America's Best Large Employers, the top 50 in Florida in the 2024 America's Best Employers by State and the 2023 America's Best Employers for Women. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2022, provided a net community benefit of approximately $240.3 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With five medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Muma Children's Hospital at TGH, the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes TGH North, which is comprised of three hospitals and several outpatient locations in Citrus and Hernando counties, 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, two TGH Outpatient Centers, TGH Virtual Health, and 20 TGH Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by the Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org.

Media Contact: Beth Hardy, APR
Assistant Manager
Publications & Physician Communications
(727) 510-6363 (cell)
[email protected]

SOURCE Tampa General Hospital