Envision Healthcare Enhances Initiatives to Support Clinicians’ Mental Health, Including Talkspace Agreement

Leading national medical group offers Talkspace online therapy as part of a comprehensive clinician wellness program

Envision Healthcare, a leading national medical group, announced a new agreement with Talkspace, a global leader in telebehavioral health, to provide vital mental health support services to its clinicians experiencing unprecedented demands due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The relationship with Talkspace builds on Envision’s years-long work to create a holistic support system that meets the evolving needs of clinicians so they can thrive personally and professionally”

As one of the country’s leading providers of virtual mental health services, Talkspace will provide Envision’s physicians, advanced practice providers and clinical support teammates unlimited private and confidential messaging (text, voice, video) and video appointment services with a private therapist from the Talkspace network.

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Envision’s 25,000 clinicians care for more than 32 million patients across the country every year. As a national medical group providing care in COVID-19 hot spots and communities throughout the U.S., Envision has been enhancing the crucial and effective wellness resources it provides clinicians, including peer-to-peer support, leadership training and formal mental health services like Talkspace.

During this sustained crisis, clinicians have been facing many of the same stressors as their community members: sick and dying family members, childcare and schooling responsibilities, loss of usual stress-relieving activities and changing workloads. Additionally, they are witnessing a great deal of trauma and human suffering and experiencing an increased risk of infection by caring for patients. According to the World Health Organization, health workers make up about 3 percent of the world’s population but account for 14 percent of all people infected with COVID-19.

“Our clinicians have remained on the frontlines, putting their health and safety aside to provide care when and where it’s needed most,” said Jim Rechtin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Envision Healthcare. “Their sacrifices have been immeasurable, and their commitment to advocate and care for all patients is admirable. We must continue to protect and care for them, as they have cared for us.”

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“The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the vital need for mental healthcare. Talkspace’s modality overcomes key barriers to care for medical providers who work unusual hours or might struggle to ask for help,” said Neil Leibowitz, Talkspace Chief Medical Officer. “We need to care for our health workers so they can help others, and that starts with addressing their wellness and mental health. We look forward to supporting the well-being of Envision’s clinicians.”

“The relationship with Talkspace builds on Envision’s years-long work to create a holistic support system that meets the evolving needs of clinicians so they can thrive personally and professionally,” said Stefanie Simmons, MD, FACEP, Vice President of Patient and Clinician Engagement at Envision. “Before the pandemic, clinicians were facing increasing demands from the complex U.S. healthcare system that could lead to burnout and depression. All of us have a responsibility to foster a culture of well-being that enables clinicians to focus on themselves, and we appreciate the support Talkspace is providing the nation’s healthcare workers.”

In addition to offering expanded wellness resources, Envision Healthcare is advocating for a regulatory environment that eliminates the stigma of addressing mental health in care providers. This includes bipartisan legislation, such as the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, which aims to reduce and prevent burnout, behavioral disorders and suicide among healthcare professionals.

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