In November 2025, we wrote about the department’s efforts to streamline outpatient behavioral health referrals across UW Medicine through upgrades in Epic. Data shows that around 20% of patients have two or more referrals for the same behavioral health problem in our system. To address this issue, we’re planning to launch a new Referral Order in Epic in July and hope to have the system fully functional by September.

Our ​next steps envision a more patient-centered system that will reduce confusion and help individuals connect with the right care more quickly. During our annual meeting on June 17, Ryan Kimmel, MD and Mollie Forrester, MSW, LICSW outlined a new model to assist patients in identifying resources. The vision includes a virtual behavioral health clinic to help guide patients and referring providers to the most appropriate level of care from the outset, reducing delays and unnecessary referrals.

In some cases, care could be initiated in the virtual clinic while ​awaiting available follow-up. One of the first groups expected to be integrated into this framework is the Suicide Care Team, led by Kate Comtois, PhD, MPH.