Roberge J, Blair N, Hajjar A, Waller J, Tcheremissine OV. Bridging the gap: Virtual psychiatric transition of care from acute to outpatient settings. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(7): 118712 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.118712]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Jason Roberge, PhD, MPH, Department of Psychiatry, Atrium Health, 501 Billingsley Road, Charlotte, NC 28211, United States. jason.roberge@advocatehealth.org
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Psychology
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research-article
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Roberge J, Blair N, Hajjar A, Waller J, Tcheremissine OV. Bridging the gap: Virtual psychiatric transition of care from acute to outpatient settings. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(7): 118712 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.118712]
World J Psychiatry. Jul 19, 2026; 16(7): 118712 Published online Jul 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.118712
Bridging the gap: Virtual psychiatric transition of care from acute to outpatient settings
Jason Roberge, Nicole Blair, Alyssa Hajjar, John Waller, Oleg V Tcheremissine
Jason Roberge, Nicole Blair, Alyssa Hajjar, John Waller, Oleg V Tcheremissine, Department of Psychiatry, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC 28211, United States
Author contributions: Roberge J acquired the data and performed the statistical analysis; Roberge J, Blair N, and Hajjar A, and Waller J had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis; Roberge J, Blair N, Hajjar A, Waller J, and Tcheremissine OV drafted the manuscript and provided critical revisions for important intellectual content; Blair N, Hajjar A, and Waller J designed and managed the virtual psychiatric transition of care program. All authors approval the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: Microsoft 365 was used on some sections after the paper was written and edited for language polishing. We did not run the whole paper through AI. No portion of this manuscript was AI generated. An AI tool was not used for translation or data analysis. No AI tool was used for the design of the study or interpretation of the results. No tables or images were generated by an AI tool.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Corresponding author: Jason Roberge, PhD, MPH, Department of Psychiatry, Atrium Health, 501 Billingsley Road, Charlotte, NC 28211, United States. jason.roberge@advocatehealth.org
Received: January 9, 2026 Revised: February 26, 2026 Accepted: March 23, 2026 Published online: July 19, 2026 Processing time: 167 Days and 22.9 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Timely and successful transition to outpatient care following inpatient behavioral health treatment or emergency department discharge is critical to reducing suicide risk and preventing mental health deterioration. To address this, the virtual psychiatric transition of care (VPTC) program was developed by the Department of Psychiatry at Atrium Health.
AIM
To provide virtual, multidisciplinary support to patient’s post-discharge, facilitating access to appropriate outpatient services.
METHODS
Patients enrolled between August 2021 and August 2023 were included in a retrospective evaluation of the VPTC program’s implementation. The program provided support across six inpatient Behavioral Health facilities, a Department of Behavioral Health Emergency with an Observation Unit, and a Consult Liaison Unit. All participating sites operate within a single, large, fully integrated healthcare system located in the southeastern United States. Outcomes include compliance with follow-up care, acute care utilization, and patient well-being.
RESULTS
Over 1500 patients were supported, with 205 follow-up visits completed through VPTC, including 84 hospital follow-ups. The hospital follow-up rate of 63% exceeded both the national average (40%-50%) and comparable internal benchmarks (37%). The program also surpassed targets for reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, while patients reported high satisfaction, citing convenience, privacy, and ease of access.
CONCLUSION
The VPTC program is feasible and has shown early positive effects in supporting continuity of care and reducing acute service use. A virtual program can address patient well-being and potentially drive reductions in avoidable utilization of high-cost services. This program is a model for promoting recovery and supporting patients in navigating their transition to community-based behavioral health care.
Core Tip: A virtual care program has the potential to strengthen postdischarge support for individuals living with mental illness by expanding access to timely care, reducing the risk of suicide, and decreasing dependence on high-cost acute services. Through structured follow-up and coordinated communication, the virtual psychiatric transition of care program helps patients successfully engage with outpatient providers, promoting sustained recovery, continuity of treatment, and long-term psychological well-being.
