Compass Health Partners with Concrete Community Action Agency to Open Local Mental Health Telehealth Station

New secure, private telehealth location will expand access to mental health services in rural areas of Skagit County

Concrete, Wash. – Compass Health and Community Action of Skagit County are pleased to announce the opening of a new telehealth station in Concrete. The station enables local community members to connect virtually with therapists and other mental health professionals via secure video chat for counseling, psychiatric evaluation, and case management.

Located in the Community Action office within the East Skagit County Resource Center at 45770 Main St., the offering allows residents to access the same high-quality mental health services available at physical Compass Health locations in Mount Vernon and cities further away without having to make the commute. Services provided via the telehealth station are available to adults and children who qualify for Medicaid / Apple Health benefits. Skagit County residents interested in scheduling an appointment or learning more about the services offered at Compass Health’s Concrete telehealth station are encouraged to call (360) 419-3500.

“We are grateful to Community Action of Skagit County for partnering with us to make such a convenient location available so that we can meet clients where they are,” said Judy Heinemann, Compass Health Director of Skagit, Island, and San Juan County Outpatient Services. “Through this telehealth station, we are able to provide a physical location that is practical and accessible for residents of Concrete and nearby rural areas to receive ongoing care.”

Clients will engage with mental health providers via Compass Health Bridge, a mobile video solution that allows for effective, private treatment in secure community and home settings while remaining HIPAA-compliant. To use the service, community members visit the Community Action office at designated appointment times, and log into a video chat via a secure link on the computer provided.

Since Compass Health first rolled out Bridge in 2019, and given the implications of COVID-19, the organization has continued to expand the footprint of the service, providing more clients across Northwest Washington with access to quality, personable care remotely.

Planning for the Concrete telehealth station began in fall 2021 when a concerned community member contacted leadership within Compass Health to discuss ways in which the county could increase access to mental health services. To accomplish this, Compass Health connected with the Community Action Agency to identify a permanent location for the station and coordinate the specifics of implementation and operation. The service was officially made available to residents in February 2022.

“At Compass Health, it is our mission to support anyone who needs our care, and this telehealth station allows us to further accomplish this by supplying us with a physical location to provide accessible services to a remote community,” Heinemann added. “We look forward to having a more prominent presence in Concrete and providing much needed services to the community members who otherwise would be unable to access mental health counseling.”

Skagit County residents interested in scheduling an appointment or learning more about the services offered at the Concrete telehealth station are encouraged to call (360) 419-3500. For more information about Compass Health and the services it provides, visit CompassHealth.org.