Virtual care fundamentally changed access to mental health and substance use health services, especially for individuals in underserved areas or experiencing other barriers to accessing care.
Thanks to the teamwork between clients, families, service providers, clinicians, scientists, researchers, administrators, technology experts, and donors throughout our region, this past year saw continued growth in virtual service delivery.
These innovative virtual health solutions are easing access and bringing new possibilities to people in the Ottawa region, and beyond.
“The encouraging news is that there's more hope as the door is opening wider with the emergence of innovative care and related services and supports,” says Lived Experience Transformative Leader and former chair of The Royal’s Family Advisory Council, Michèle Langlois.
“We're committed to busting those barriers. We're approaching them and tackling them one at a time with a goal to achieve more equitable, innovative ways to connect with, engage, and deliver care and services and support that meet people’s needs.”
“Digital front door” to Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM)
Prior to COVID, RAAM was a low barrier walk-in clinic designed for individuals who seek support for alcohol, opioid use, or other related concerns – no referral needed.
At the onset of the pandemic, a team of clients, service providers, clinicians, scientists, researchers, administrators, and technology experts, worked together to launch a “digital front door” to the RAAM clinic. It replicates the experience of the in-person visit, but virtually, from wherever the person is at.
"The virtual RAAM clinic is now one of the easiest, and most accessible health solutions in the city."
Research conducted with clients, families, and community partners, demonstrates that RAAM clinics improve outcomes and reduce emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths.
“The virtual RAAM clinic is now one of the easiest, and most accessible health solutions in the region,” says Dr. Kim Corace, vice president, innovation and transformation, and co-creator of the RAAM clinic in
the substance use and concurrent disorders program at The Royal.
“RAAM saves lives,” says Dr. Melanie Willows, addiction medicine physician, clinical director with the substance use and concurrent disorders program at The Royal and co-creator of the RAAM clinic. “It’s really a testament to the power of the collective, what people are able to do together in terms of systems and services.”
Since its launch, the Digital Front Door to RAAM has garnered interest in other clinics and has been scaled and spread to over 15 clinics across the province. The project was also one of two winners of Innovation Expo 2022.
Read more about RAAM and the impact it has in our community right here.
AccessMHA
AccessMHA is a digitally-enabled service model designed to make it easier for people in need of mental health and substance use health support to access the services they need when they need them.
Launched in March 2021, AccessMHA was created by the Partners for Regional Coordinated Access for Mental Health and Addictions (RCA), which includes people with lived and living expertise as well as many community and health organizations throughout eastern Ontario.
“The project was a collaboration that was driven and led by clients and families to make it easier to access care, but also bridge some of those silos between mental health and substance use health, mental health and physical health,” says Corace.
The group is now working together to scale the coordinated access model across the Ontario East region, and beyond.
Anniversary of the Prompt Care Clinic
The Royal’s Prompt Care Clinic celebrated their first anniversary in January. The clinic had over 1,900 referrals in 2021 with 65 per cent of individuals seeking mental health support for the first time.
The clinic, proudly funded by The Royal's donors and corporate sponsors, was developed in collaboration with The Ottawa Hospital. Prompt is staffed by a team that includes nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. Services include mental health assessments and treatment recommendations, short-term psychotherapy, and medication recommendations.
While Prompt services remain virtual for the time being, there are plans to turn it into a “hybrid” clinic, with both virtual and in-person appointments. Read more about Prompt here.
