Bridging the Gap: Models of Rapid Access Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Care

As pediatric mental health needs continue to rise across the country, there is an escalating deficit of child and adolescent psychiatric specialists. In an effort to meet this increasing need, many health systems have explored multiple innovative options to expedite and expand care delivery. The bridging model of care is a burgeoning area of care delivery in child and adolescent psychiatry nationwide. As a model, it improves efficiency of and access to care and is therefore able to reduce systemic stress by providing pressure release at various points across the continuum of care.