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This month marks two years since DMHDDSUS launched BH SCAN, a platform designed to connect people to the right care at the right time in the right place. This technology includes a centralized bed registry for mental health and substance use care, offering daily updates on available beds. The goal is to help providers make faster referrals and reduce long waits in emergency departments.
Since its launch, over 3,100 licensed beds have been enrolled, covering the following services:
- Community and state psychiatric inpatient facilities
- Psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs)
- Adult and youth facility-based crisis centers (FBCs)
- Substance use treatment centers
In 2024, we expanded this functionality to include 928 beds across 25 locations that provide hourly, automated updates on bed availability. Nearly 100 organizations now have real-time access to this data.
North Carolina has been a strong adopter of this technology, with 83% of facilities reporting bed availability in BH SCAN daily. This data helps providers find essential inpatient and crisis care for people more efficiently and offers critical insights to DMHDDSUS, including the identification of gaps in the statewide crisis system and highlighting areas where additional beds may be needed.
In 2023, we piloted Automated Bed Availability (ABA) with Bamboo Health and UNC. Looking ahead, we're preparing to launch digital referral technology in early 2025. This system will integrate ABA with providers' Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, streamlining referrals between providers. Future updates will include mobile crisis dispatch integration, making referrals even more comprehensive.
BH SCAN is already making a difference. For example, during Hurricane Helene, the system helped providers quickly find available beds and transfer patients to operational facilities when others were closed.
DMHDDSUS remains committed to improving BH SCAN to meet the needs of North Carolinians—both providers and individuals—ensuring timely and effective care for all.
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