St. Vincent Charity Medical Center Chief of Behavioral Health Michael J. Biscaro, Psy.D., ABPP (Forensic) recently joined an expert panel to discuss Behavioral Health and COVID-19 with Crain's Cleveland Business. 

As outlined by Crain's, COVID-19 has simultaneously negatively affected many people's mental health and caused new roadblocks for people to access that care. This is especially concerning for those already suffering with mental illness and substance use disorders. How are behavioral health care providers grappling with that reality? Health care reporter Lydia Coutré moderated an hour-long discussion on how people can cope with mental health during COVID-19.

For the best viewing experience, watch the webcast in full-screen here. 

Crain's Webcast:

Behavioral Health & COVID-19

Panelists:

• Donald Malone, Jr., MD
  • Staff Psychiatrist, Cleveland Clinic
• Michael J. Biscaro, Psy.D., ABPP (Forensic)
  • Chief, Behavioral Health, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center
• Dr. Francoise Adan
  • Director, Connor Integrative Health Network, University Hospitals
• Lisa Ramirez, PhD, ABPP
  • Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychologist, MetroHealth System
  • Director of Community and Behavioral Health, MetroHealth School Health Program
  • Assistant Professor, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Behavioral Health at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center:

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is amid a transformation of its Behavioral Health Service Line to provide an integrated health model that: takes a person-centered approach to care, and expands our service continuum to better meet the needs of the complex population we serve.

SVCMC has been critical in the work to reduce the impact of substance use disorders on Northeast Ohio, including the opioid epidemic. Ohio is ground zero for this crisis, which is tearing families apart, and stealing lives and talent from our communities. SVCMC’s Rosary Hall is one of Ohio’s first and best hospital-based addiction treatment centers. Rosary Hall has been at the forefront of treating drug dependency for more than 65 years – treating more than 100,000 individuals with the compassionate care that is the hallmark of SVCMC.

SVCMC’s Psychiatric Emergency Department (PED) is a critical safety net service, and is one of two in the State of Ohio and one of only seven in the nation. It is the most efficient method to assess the acute psychiatric needs of people transported by law enforcement and health care agencies from 59 municipalities.

About St. Vincent Charity Medical Center:

Cleveland’s first and only downtown hospital, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is the city’s faith-based, high-quality health care provider. Our distinguished doctors and caregivers are devoted to treating every patient with clinical excellence and compassionate care. Home to the renowned Spine and Orthopedic Institute and the Center for Bariatric Surgery, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center has services in non-invasive cardiovascular, emergency medicine and psychiatric emergency department, primary care, occupational health, behavioral health and addiction medicine. Owned by the Sisters of Charity Health System, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center has provided Care Beyond Medicine since 1865.