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RALEIGH, N.C. (WLOS) — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has launched a statewide online mental health bed registry designed to reduce wait times and ensure individuals in crisis receive timely care.
According to a news release, the Behavioral Health Statewide Central Availability Navigator (BH SCAN) now updates hourly instead of once daily and has been integrated with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
The 988 hotline can now connect mobile crisis teams dispatched to individuals in crisis with information about available mental health beds in their area.
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This integration allows 988 call center dispatchers to access BH SCAN for real-time mental health bed availability, ensuring uninterrupted service, the release states.
"Making BH SCAN available to 988 counselors and improving its accuracy with automated updates will make it easier for people in North Carolina to receive the care they need and deserve in a more coordinated effort," said NCDHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai. "This innovative partnership between providers and facilities across the state is one of the ways we are working to support a mental health care system that works for everyone, ensuring a healthier North Carolina."
The Automated Bed Availability (ABA) feature of BH SCAN provides real-time data to providers and hospitals statewide searching for available mental health care beds.
Previously, SCAN relied on manual daily updates by hospital staff, which reduced accuracy and could delay locating available beds.
The new automated bed feature enables providers to quickly and accurately find placements for patients across all levels of care statewide.
North Carolina is the first state in the nation to implement the hourly ABA function.
Since BH SCAN's launch in 2023, it has expanded to provide up-to-date information on more than 3,500 mental health care beds across 112 facilities statewide.
These facilities include:
- Inpatient psychiatric beds
- Alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers
- Substance use disorder care
- Behavioral health urgent care
- Pediatric residential care
- Facility-based care and state hospitals
NCDHHS describes BH SCAN as a secure portal that allows referring facilities to search for appropriate and available inpatient beds based on criteria such as demographics, acuity, commitment status, and location.
Currently, BH SCAN provides visibility into 80% of the state's total inpatient psychiatric bed capacity, with plans to add more beds. North Carolina has approximately 3,200 inpatient psychiatric beds statewide.
NCDHHS aims to have all providers connected to the ABA enhancement of BH SCAN by early 2027.
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Following the ABA expansion launch, North Carolina saw a 1,400% increase in daily bed updates, allowing providers to access current information on available beds more easily.
"BH SCAN is one of many investments made by NCDHHS to build resilience and strengthen our system of care to ensure everyone gets the care they need in the place that is convenient to them," said Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Disorders. "Finding an appropriate bed based on someone’s medical needs can be a time-intensive process. BH SCAN is helping simplify this so people receive help quicker."
For more information on NCDHHS' efforts to expand mental health care in North Carolina, visit here.
