News

OSF HealthCare was already working with Regroup Therapy on providing medication consults to embedded therapists within primary care clinic offices. The new investment comes with the expansion of this partnership to include direct clinician to patient service beginning in September.

OSF Director of Behavioral Health Services Cheryl Crowe said the ability to offer face-to-face consultations over video in primary care clinics will allow patients significantly greater and timelier access to the professional care they need.

“On a national level, there is a lack of psychiatrists and even some mental health therapists in many, many regions,” Crowe said. “We see it in all areas and including a greater demand in rural areas where there are even fewer providers available. So again, primary care is so important to support these individuals with needs.”

Regroup Therapy’s network of more than 3,000 behavioral health specialists come from a range of disciplines. The arrangement between OSF and Regroup ensures that patients will be able to see the same credentialed provider for the duration of their treatment.

Vice President of Venture Investments Stan Lynall for OSF Ventures said the investment in Regroup Therapy, and eventual offering of real-time behavioral health video consultations, will reduce costs to patients and the health care system.

“We believe that with greater access and more efficient access to the professionals that certain people need, it will reduce — hopefully significantly — the need for these patients to access more critical care environments like our emergency rooms,” Lynall said.

The behavioral health video service will be piloted at OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa beginning in August before being expanded to other sites within the organization.

The OSF Ventures investment includes the addition of Dr. Jeffry Tillery, chief transformation officer for OSF, as a board member of Regroup Therapy. Lynall will be a board observer.

Other investors in the round include Hyde Park Angels, HLM Ventures Partners, OCA Ventures, Further Fund, Impact Engine and Sandalphon Ventures.