RALEIGH, N.C. (WLOS) — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has announced a statewide online mental health bed registry aiming to reduce wait times and ensure people in crisis receive care as soon as possible.

According to a news release, the Behavioral Health Statewide Central Availability Navigator (BH SCAN) is now updated hourly instead of once per day and has been integrated with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

The hotline 988 will now be able to connect mobile crisis teams when they are dispatched to someone in crisis, letting them know the available mental health beds in their area.

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This allows for 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center dispatchers to connect to BH SCAN for mental health bed availability in the caller’s area, making sure there are no disruptions, the release says.

“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 NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai, in a news release. “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.”

According to the release, the Automated Bed Availability (ABA) function of the BH SCAN will provide real-time data to providers and hospitals across the state who are searching for an available mental health care bed.

Previously, the SCAN relied on manual daily updates by hospital staff, which reduced the accuracy of the system and could result in delays in finding an available bed.

Now the new automated bed feature ensures that providers can quickly and accurately find a placement for patients across the state and at all levels of care.

The release says that North Carolina is the first state in the country to have the hourly ABA function.

Since the launch of the BH SCAN in 2023, it has grown to provide up-to-date information to more than 3,500 mental health care beds in 112 facilities across the state.

These facilities include the following:

• 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 says BH SCAN is a secure portal that allows referring facilities to search for an appropriate and available inpatient bed based on multiple search criteria, including demographics, acuity, commitment status and location.

BH SCAN now provides visibility into 80% of the state’s total inpatient psychiatric bed capacity, with more beds expected to be added, according to the release. There are approximately 3,200 inpatient psychiatric beds statewide.

NCDHHS’ goal is to have all providers on the ABA enhancement to the BH SCAN by early 2027.

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According to the release, when the ABA expansion went live, North Carolina experienced a 1,400% increase in bed updates per day, meaning providers were easily able to see current information about available beds.

“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, 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 increase mental health care in North Carolina, visit here.