MONTGOMERY COUNTY — A local county launched a new portal that aims to make mental health treatment more accessible.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00 p.m., Montgomery County Commissioners announced the launch of the SafetyNet Portal on Monday.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Bellefontaine choir teacher arrested, accused of importuning
- Road closed after police, SWAT respond to barricaded subject in Xenia
- Caleb Flynn expected to be sentenced, faces life without parole
With the new SafetyNet Portal, providers can see patient information like their birthday and housing information.
They can also check recent medical visits, medications, and jail history all in one place.
Sarah Hackenbracht, the President and CEO of the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association, says the new portal helps providers know what care a patient needs quicker and easier.
“We can help ensure individuals receive the right care at the right time, regardless of where they enter the system,” Hackenbracht said.
Hackenbracht and county commissioners say patients will sign forms allowing this information to be shared with vetted healthcare, behavioral health, or crisis-response agencies.
Only authorized users within those organizations can access patient information.
Montgomery County Probate Judge David Brannon says it will help people get on the right track sooner.
“At any given time, we have 200 persons who are mentally ill subject to court order. Which means they’ve been adjudicated and under our commitment. This is a lot of people,” Brannon said.
Brannon said that five years ago, no one was tracking that data.
“Now we know that roughly 4 to 5000 people are dropped off at a hospital for an evaluation or otherwise pink slipped,” Brannon said. “A lot of these are repeat; we didn’t even know how many or who, and now we’re starting to get that information.”
The county invested over $1 million into the development of the portal. They partnered with Ascend Innovations to develop the portal and fund future use of it.
Kettering Health and Premier Health invested $100,000 into the portal.
County Commissioners said they hope more organizations join the network.
[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]