Greenville, N.C. – The American Psychiatric Association recently awarded East Carolina University (ECU) and ECU Health’s N.C. Statewide Telepsychiatry Program (NC-STeP) the prestigious Psychiatric Services Achievement Bronze Award for its significant contributions to the mental health field. NC-STeP, a virtual care-based program focused on enhancing access to mental health services in underserved parts of the state, was created in 2013 and is effectively reducing patient lengths of stay in emergency departments, increasing efficiency and improving costs by reducing the number of involuntary commitments, eliminating unnecessary admissions and improving patient transition to aftercare to reduce repeated visits.
“We are incredibly proud and honored to receive the Psychiatric Services Achievement Bronze Award from the American Psychiatric Association,” said Dr. Sy Saeed, director of the ECU Center for Telepsychiatry and founding executive director of NC-STeP.
“This recognition highlights the unique strength of ECU and ECU Health working together to advance academic medicine and research to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina. Through the innovative model developed by NC-STeP, we have leveraged our combined expertise to significantly improve mental health care across North Carolina, demonstrating how our collaborative efforts can lead to meaningful, statewide impact.”
NC-STeP provides telepsychiatry services in hospital emergency departments, as well as in the community-based medical clinics, to individuals in need of a psychiatric assessment. The vision of NC-STeP is to assure that individuals who present to any of its clinical sites, anywhere in the state of North Carolina, experiencing an acute behavioral health crisis will receive timely, evidence-based psychiatric consultation for diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
The American Psychiatric Association has recognized innovative programs serving individuals with mental illness or disabilities through the Psychiatric Services Achievement Awards since 1949. This award honors exceptional programs that offer innovative services, emphasize quality improvement, effectively utilize psychiatrists, peer support specialists, and other staff and actively involve consumers and their families.
NC-STeP is now an established model that is known nationally and internationally for its work with underserved communities. Dr. Saeed and members of the NC-STeP team have lectured and presented on this innovative model nationwide and internationally, including being an invited speaker at a White House Convening on telehealth in 2016. Hosted by ECU’s Center for Telepsychiatry, NC-STeP has conducted over 91,000 psychiatric assessments, at its 58 clinical sites across the state and has saved North Carolina more than $59 million by avoiding unneeded hospitalizations alone. Approximately one-third of the patients served had no insurance, with around 46% covered by Medicaid and Medicare.
In 2023, ECU received a $3.2 million grant from the United Health Foundation to provide mental health services for youth. Dr. Saeed, the principal investigator on the grant, established NC-STeP-Peds as part of the grant to provide mental health care services to children and adolescents in rural and underserved parts of the state. Six pediatric primary care clinics across the state have a space within the clinic where patients meet virtually with a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) for therapy sessions. Patients referred for psychiatric care will also meet virtually with the child psychiatrist in the same space.
“NC-STeP is the perfect example of how the partnership between ECU and ECU Health is at the forefront of driving innovation in transformative behavioral health care in eastern North Carolina and beyond,” said Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health and dean of the Brody School of Medicine at ECU. “NC-STeP leverages local academic and clinical expertise to address the most urgent challenges in rural health, especially in behavioral health. Together, we are not just meeting the needs of rural communities; we are pioneering new approaches that will reshape health outcomes across North Carolina. The American Psychiatric Association’s recognition of NC-STeP underscores our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that ensure all North Carolinians have access to the care they need, right here in our state.”