Page 5 - September 2020 Ulupono

Adventist Health, Synchronous
Health partner to provide customized behavioral healthcare
By Todd Reese, Director of Human Performance
Adventist Health is partnering with Synchronous Health, a behavioral health company that combines the strength of human empathy with artificial intelligence (AI) in behavioral health services, to provide customized behavioral healthcare and well- being solutions to key communities, CEO Scott Reiner recently announced.
Through this partnership, Synchronous Health and Adventist Health will codevelop behavioral health and well-being solutions to address the biggest drivers of health costs and community needs. Adventist Health already tapped Synchronous Health’s technology and clinical models to address the needs of two critical populations during the COVID-19 pandemic: caregiver burnout and resiliency among the health system’s 37,000 associates, and depression and isolation among more than 2 million older adults in communities we serve.
Scott said Adventist Health is not only fortifying the well-being of our team and community by providing the custom- designed Synchronous platform, but
also investing in the dynamically growing company as part of the partnership.
Synchronous Health offers a unique combination of person-to-person telehealth sessions through a national network
of licensed counselors paired with its proprietary AI platform, Karla®, a bot that delivers precision coaching support between sessions. The Karla platform is customized per individual to include proactive and reactive coaching through messages
and alerts, as well as direct access to a behavioral health or spiritual care specialist when indicated. This comprehensive approach can be both scaled to serve
large populations and tailored to individual preferences and conditions in a timely way.
“Behavioral health and well-being are two-thirds of our mission statement and consistently represent the highest needs
of the communities we serve,” Scott said. “Our 10-year transformation strategy includes bringing accountable, needs-
based community well-being improvement solutions to the forefront. Synchronous Health fits exactly into that strategy. We will continue our 150-year legacy of whole- person care for our associates, patients and communities by ensuring they are cared
for in mind, body and spirit and the critical importance of innovating how healthcare is delivered and received.”
The partnership currently provides Adventist Health team members with trauma resilience assistance through virtual visits with highly trained behavioral health specialists as well as spiritual care for those who request it. The free service is available to all associates, whether or not they’re members of the Adventist Health Plan,
by visiting ah.synctalk.us or calling 916- 249-9356. Together with their specialist, associates design their personalized support plan through Karla®, which uses predictive analytics and AI to deliver interventions in the moment they are needed – rather than waiting for the next scheduled appointment.
The program, which launched in April 2020, took only 10 days to implement, demonstrating how flexible the platform is
in configuring solutions to meet the specific needs of the population and any individual in it.
“The endurance and tenacity of our colleagues on the front lines have been tested like never before, especially for those who see the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic firsthand,” said Adventist Health President Bill Wing. “Because our clinicians’ well-being is central to our mission, we needed an innovative solution, and we needed it fast. In Synchronous, we found a unique approach that allows us to quickly expand the care and support needed for our front-line workers.”
Additionally, the two organizations codeveloper and launched a program
in July to improve the well-being of
older adults who are more isolated now
due to COVID-19 and at higher risk for anxiety and depression. The pilot program incorporates both a physical and mental health assessment and facilitates access to community resources, a connection to peers and telehealth services with Karla® support. This is one example of how this partnership will demonstrate the tremendous savings in total cost of care when behavioral health is addressed.
SEPTEMBER 2020 - ULUPONO
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