LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals (TORCH) has joined forces with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) to improve access to mental healthcare in rural communities while enhancing safety for both patients and healthcare providers.
Terry Scoggin, CEO of Titus Regional Medical Center, highlighted the growing crisis in mental health resources, particularly in rural Texas, where hospital closures have exacerbated the issue.
“Titus Regional Medical Center has seen four hospitals close within 45 miles of us over the past decade,” Scoggin said. “We understand the devastating impact a hospital closure has on a rural community.”
Addressing a Critical Mental Health Shortage
According to TTUHSC, nearly one in five adults in the U.S. lives with a mental illness, and for many in rural areas, emergency rooms serve as the primary point of care.
“We also recognize the significant impact behavioral health has on rural communities,” Scoggin added. “Over the last 10 years, one of the biggest challenges we’ve faced is the increasing number of behavioral health patients arriving at our emergency department, often staying there for extended periods without specialized care.”
To address this issue, TORCH and TTUHSC have implemented a telepsychiatry initiative, allowing psychiatrists and behavioral health specialists to provide virtual care to patients with mental health conditions.
The Impact of Telepsychiatry
Kathy Griffis, chief nursing officer at Titus Regional Medical Center, emphasized the effectiveness of remote psychiatric care, noting that it helps prevent unnecessary hospitalizations while ensuring patients receive appropriate treatment.
“Not every patient needs to be admitted to an inpatient center,” Griffis said. “Having an expert assess them virtually helps determine the safest option. The most significant outcome we’ve seen is that 50% of patients using the TORCH program are able to return home and receive outpatient treatment instead of being hospitalized. That’s a gamechanger.”
Griffis also noted that patients experiencing acute psychotic episodes can sometimes become violent, posing risks to themselves and medical staff. She believes the telepsychiatry program plays a vital role in enhancing safety while expediting medical intervention.
“For our staff, seeing patients receive the treatment they need—getting the right medication sooner, reducing psychotic symptoms earlier—is invaluable,” Griffis said. “And the success stories speak for themselves. When patients stabilize, transition home, and improve through outpatient care, it reinforces why our teams are here.”
A Call to Action for Healthcare Leaders
Scoggin urged healthcare leaders to prioritize behavioral health and seek solutions to better serve rural communities.
“Behavioral health is a growing crisis—an epidemic in rural Texas and across the United States,” he said. “This program has made a significant impact, not only in addressing our community’s mental health needs but also in reducing workplace violence and alleviating stress for our healthcare teams.”
Currently, TTUHSC is collaborating with 15 to 20 hospitals and aims to expand the program further in the coming years.
