Cuero Regional Hospital’s Telehealth Program Adds Behavioral Counseling
Cuero Regional Hospital’s Telehealth Program Adds Behavioral Counseling
Cuero, TX– Cuero Regional Hospital’s is launching an outpatient telehealth behavioral counseling program via their Outpatient Specialty Clinic to provide patients with access to a highly qualified psychologist across the rural communities they serve. The telehealth behavioral counseling program is launched in partnership with Texas A&M Health Science Center through a grant from the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration and will be led by Isaac Saldivar, PhD.
Cuero Regional Hospital’s Telehealth Behavioral Health Outpatient Specialty Clinic will see patients on Wednesdays from 1:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. and Fridays from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Appointments with Dr. Saldivar can be made by calling 361-275-0170.
Tele-counseling is the delivery of behavioral health counseling through real time videoconferencing. It is proven to be an effective form of care delivery and a convenient, cost-effective way to safely provide specialty care without the challenge of staffing an in-person specialist. Cuero Regional Hospital partnered with Texas A&M Health Science Center to provide this new telehealth counseling service.
Isaac Saldivar, PhD, has a wide range of experience in clinical psychology, having worked with both adolescents and adults across various mental health issues, with a primary emphasis among adults. Additional areas of specialty training include working with Veteran Populations, Rural- Communities, Trauma Related-Disorders, and Sexual Trauma/Military Sexual Trauma. Dr. Saldivar gained clinical internship experience working at Captain James Lovell Federal Health Care Center in Chicago, where he worked in the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Recruitment Evaluation Unit, Psychosocial Rehab Recover Center and the Stress Disorders Treatment Unit. His practicum experience included working at Texas A&M University Counseling & Assessment Clinic, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Huntsville State Prison Eastham Unit, and Stephen F. Austin Middle School in Bryan, Texas.
Dr. Saldivar received his PhD in counseling psychology from Texas A&M University in August 2019. He also holds a MA in counseling psychology, also from Texas A&M, and earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in psychology with a secondary degree in sociology. “I believe avidly in providing caring and compassionate mental health services that incorporates scientifically sound practices with an approach that is open, honest, and authentic,” said Dr. Saldivar.
“Given that our rural area and its surrounding communities often find it challenging to make appointments with psychologists, especially when seeking treatment of a substance abuse, we sought out a telehealth solution to meet the needs of the communities we serve,” said Lynn Falcone, CEO of Cuero Health. “We are seeing a rise of both alcohol and drug abuse in our area and want to be part of the solution in providing convenient access, close to home, to those seeking the tools to recover.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of June 2020, 13% of Americans reported starting or increasing substance use as a way of coping with stress or emotions related to COVID-19.
“Prior to implementing the tele-counseling outpatient program at Cuero Regional Hospital, patients had to travel some distance and often wait weeks or even months for appointments. Thanks to tele-counseling, Cuero Regional Hospital able to provide appointments with a psychologist each week to our patients and reduce costly, time-consuming commutes for them,” said Lynn Falcone, CEO of Cuero Health.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer this innovative new service to our patients and to continue to grow our telehealth services. We are dedicated to increasing specialists’ access to our patients, and this is a smart way to ensure our patients are getting the care that they need on a consistent basis,” said Falcone.
Those interested in seeing the psychologist at Cuero Regional Hospital’s Outpatient Specialty Clinic are encouraged to call 361-275-0170. For more information and the latest developments in telehealth, visit www.cueroregionalhospital.org.
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About Cuero Regional Hospital
Cuero Regional Hospital is located at 2550 N. Esplanade in Cuero, Texas and offers an ED- Level IV Trauma Center, on-staff General Surgeon, and a TeleStroke program, as well as TeleCardiology and TelePsychiatry program. For more information, visit www.cuerohospital.org or call (361) 275-6191.
Funding:
This program was supported by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of awards totaling $1,700,000 with 0% financed with nongovernmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or he U.S. Government.