Employees specially trained to handle mental health issues have been placed in emergency departments at both Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and Twin Cities Community Hospital, Tenet Health announced Monday.
The initiative, which is the first of its kind in SLO County, was made due to a partnership between the hospitals, the County of San Luis Obispo and the Sierra Mental Wellness Group.
It is designed to allow patients experiencing a crisis to get help immediately without any wait time, officials said.
“This partnership is providing an excellent service to our community,” Anne Robin, behavioral health director for the County of San Luis Obispo, said in a press release. “We are able to provide better care for patients by having these employees focus on the direct needs of mental health patients.”
The initiative is funded by the County of San Luis Obispo through Medi-Cal revenue and both hospitals, according to a press release.
