Alliance for Better Health, a Performing Provider System under New York State’s Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program, announced an award of $424,000 to the Ellis Mental Health Clinic in partnership with Rehabilitation Support Services (RSS), to establish “The Living Room,” a resource that will serve as an alternative to Emergency Departments for individuals with mental health crises.
Based on a national best practice model, which has already demonstrated a savings of over $500,000 with a 93% deflection rate from the Emergency Department in its first year of operationi, the Ellis/RSS Living Room will be open 12-8pm, aligned with the timing of high Emergency Department utilization by individuals experiencing acute mental health crises.
In Schenectady County, there is a lack of alternative services for individuals experiencing mental health crises, which results in preventable use of the Emergency Department. Located in the Ellis Mental Health Clinic at 1023 State St. in Schenectady, The Living Room will be designed to resemble a living room in a home, with comfortable furnishings and therapeutic activities, to provide a safe environment that will diminish stress and facilitate recovery. With an anticipated opening at the end of 2018, the program will aim to serve 6-8 individuals per day which equates to 1500 visits per year. The new setting will be staffed by both a consulting nurse practitioner and mental health clinician from Ellis, as well as a care manager and peer specialist from RSS.
The Living Room is one of several Innovation Awards from the Alliance for Better Health 2018 Innovation Fund, established to help the greater Capital Region improve the lives and health of Medicaid Members and uninsured individuals. From this fund, Alliance is investing a total of $4.6 million in the community to partners from health care and community-based organizations working together to bring innovations to the market with a focus on addressing social determinants of health.