Sanford Fargo Recognized for Excellence in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Program
Sanford Health Fargo has been recognized by Becker’s Health Review as one of 60 hospitals and health systems with great psychiatry and behavioral health programs.
The nominated hospitals and health systems are committed to treating mental health as a vital part of overall wellbeing, providing support for the psychiatric, emotional and behavioral needs of their patients. Through a thoughtful combination of medication management, therapy, education and innovative treatment approaches, these programs are addressing one of health care’s most essential, and often overlooked, needs.
“Providing world-class behavioral health services to the communities we serve is more important now than ever before,” said Kathryn Norby, Sanford Health vice president of operations for behavioral health services. “It is a priority for Sanford Health to help reduce the stigma by providing students and future professionals in psychiatry, psychology and therapy practical experience through rotations and internships. It is our hope that by creating awareness through events such as the ‘Out of the Darkness Walk’ and by making the necessary resources available, we can help aid in the fight against mental health one day at a time.”
Sanford Fargo Behavioral Health provides a comprehensive range of inpatient and outpatient services, bolstered by integrated screenings across clinics and the strategic placement of therapists within primary care. With 28 inpatient beds and a multidisciplinary team, the department has embedded real-time mental health response in emergency departments, utilizing virtual psychiatric consults to reduce wait times and improve outcomes.
The Sanford Fargo Behavioral Health team, in partnership with the University of North Dakota, developed “The Behavioral Health Bridge” platform during the COVID-19 pandemic to serve a critical educational resource across the region. The program also offers new grant-funded initiatives such as the Sanford Fargo Substance Use Disorder Clinic and research on rural mental health and trauma care.
A list of all hospitals and health systems recognized with great psychiatry and behavioral health programs can be found here.
