GREENSBORO, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has upgraded an online registry that tracks where mental health beds are available across the state.
What You Need To Know
In 2023, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services launched the Behavioral Health Statewide Central Availability Navigator, or BH SCAN, to replace a decades-long system of faxing and calling to check bed availability at treatment facilities across the state
In 2024, the DHHS piloted a new function at three facilities that would automatically update in real time when beds would be available and cut down on wait times to access beds at mental health and substance abuse treatment centers
This week, that function is being rolled out statewide with the goal of most providers incorporating the system by 2027
The system now updates more frequently and is connected to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, something that could help people experiencing a mental health crisis and recovery issues get care faster.
Vice President of Behavioral Services with Cone Health Dave Jenkins said finding an open hospital bed when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis can take time.
All 32 beds are currently filled at Guilford County Behavioral Health Urgent Care.
Jenkins said mental health mobile units that go out to meet people in crisis are also having trouble placing people in need.
“It could be anywhere from hours to many days,” Jenkins said. “One of the challenges is finding available beds throughout the state because, oftentimes, there aren’t enough in a single community, but there could be capacity in other parts of the state,” he explained.
But the new Automated Bed Availability function in the Behavioral Health Statewide Central Availability Navigator or BH SCAN is making it easier to find care.
The function was piloted in 2024, at UNC Health and two other health facilities to track mental health bed availability hourly. It allows providers to see open beds in real time.
“One of their goals is to determine what the next step is, what the next level of care or transition is for that individual, so that they don’t fall back into crisis,” Jenkins said. “And so they now have the ability to make those referrals and look to see what resources and services are available in real time.”
North Carolina is the first state to automate hourly updates to mental health bed availability. It will also be available for alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers.
State officials said the goal is faster and more coordinated care across the state.
“It’s a real benefit for us as both a provider of psychiatric treatment and a referral partner,” Jenkins said. “It’s a two-way resource because there are times when we’re operating at capacity, and we need to connect patients to other communities.”
The feature is coming to Guilford County Behavioral Health Urgent Care soon.
The NCDHHS said it is working to have all providers on the system by early 2027.