April Newsletter

Orbit Health

April Newsletter

Community Partners & Friends,

Orbit Health welcomes the change in season with high hopes for Spring and great things to come for our company and the communities we serve. Long recognized as a time of renewal and progress, Spring is a great time of year to reflect on change and new opportunities.

With that in mind, our team seems to learn something new every day. And this aligns with one of our core company values, “Always be learning.” Spring reminds us to keep an open mind and look for ways to improve quality of care and service. As the behavioral health landscape continues to evolve, Orbit Health promises to adapt in order to better address patient needs while serving our partners.

Q+A with LMFT

Sarah Hoolihan

What do you enjoy most about working as a therapist?

Walking alongside individuals as they face hardship is a great privilege and honor. I very much enjoy watching clients make incremental, lasting change that empowers them in their day to day life and interactions.

Do you think your patients benefit from having access to therapy through telehealth/video? If so, how?

When clients have access to telehealth therapy sessions, they’ve reported to me that it’s far easier to be consistent. That consistency in showing up for weekly sessions makes them ultimately more successful in achieving the therapeutic goals they set out for themselves.

In your experience, what social determinants most affect patients in need of behavioral health services and prevent them from receiving care?

Life is so busy for everyone nowadays. Often times, folks need to work on their mental health but scheduling transportation time, time away from work, family and social events can prevent them from making and keeping a commitment to therapy. There also may be fewer providers close in proximity to them, which is a hardship. Telehealth assures that everyone has access to this amazing service.

If you could summarize it in one sentence, what would be your advice to someone considering first-time therapy?

Think of therapy as a partnership where you can gain assistance in moving through life challenges.

Are you hopeful about the future of tele-therapy and behavioral health care in the years to come? Why or why not?

I believe access to tele-therapy has been one of the best forward movements in the world of mental health. However, because the internet is full of unsolicited advice, I believe it’s vital for clients to understand the importance of being connected to well-respected, licensed professionals who have a solid foundation for their practice.

Behavioral Health Spotlight

County Governments

When many people think of healthcare services, they envision a large hospital or perhaps a doctor’s office. But patients today are served by a variety of resources in a range of locations that have different systems of care delivery. Counties–long-time partners to Orbit Health–are good examples of healthcare organizations that have refined effective and creative care delivery methods.

For example, Counties leverage Orbit Health telepsychiatry to supplement behavioral health services with flexible and cost-effective treatment. The care model works well for both rural and urban populations and is especially helpful for any community with underserved populations. By erasing the challenge of “distance” via tele-connectivity, an Orbit Health telepsychiatrist or therapist can meet with patients in a location that otherwise lacks onsite providers. This workflow not only bridges the care gap, but it’s also cost effective and flexible.

Click here to learn more about telepsychiatry for your County, FQHC, or clinic!