CHOC Children’s announced receiving a $200,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation. The donation will support piloting the region’s first pediatric psychiatric consultation access line, helping pediatricians with psychiatric consultations to increase the speed with which their patients receive psychiatric services. In addition, the line will help pediatricians connect their patients with mental health conditions to the appropriate resources.
Photo: (L-R) – Sam Attisha (Cox Communications), Mike Sadowski (Kelley Blue Book), Jodi Duva (Cox Business), Dr. Heather Huszti (CHOC Children’s), Doug Corbin (CHOC Children’s) and CA Assemblymember Steven Choi.
“There are more than 150,000 children in Orange County suffering from mental health conditions. Without early identification and treatment, these children are unlikely to escape long-term impacts on their health and well-being,” says CHOC’s Chief Psychologist Heather Huszti, Ph.D. “Our pediatric access line will help improve the speed of access to behavioral health treatment, including psychiatric consultations and referrals.”
The James M. Cox Foundation, named after Cox Enterprises’ founder, provides funding in priority areas of health, conservation and environment, early childhood education and empowering families and individuals for success in the communities where the company operates. Cox Communications, the company’s broadband communications and entertainment subsidiary, operates throughout Southern California.
“We recognized the important role technology has for delivering a psychiatric access line to address the growing need for mental health resources,” said Sam Attisha, senior vice president and general manager, Cox Communications. “As one of the leading telecommunications companies in the country, we hope, through this grant, to improve the quality of service and access to critical health care programs in Orange County.”
CHOC’s pediatric psychiatric access line will be modeled after the MCPAP (Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project), a successful and sustainable, implementation of a psychiatric consultation line that provides timely telephonic psychiatric and clinical guidance to primary care providers (PCPs) treating children with mental health problems in their practices. The program allows enrolled PCPs to get assistance for any child in their care. On the basis of an initial phone consultation, patients may receive interim treatment from their PCPs, in-person psychiatric or clinical assessments, transitional therapy, and/or help in connecting with community resources.
“As technology continues to expand access to health care, we applaud CHOC Children’s for being at the forefront,” said Attisha.
About CHOC Children’s
CHOC Children’s is exclusively committed to the health and well-being of children through clinical expertise, advocacy, outreach, education and research that brings advanced treatment to pediatric patients. Affiliated with the University of California, Irvine, CHOC’s regional healthcare community includes two state-of-the-art hospitals in Orange and Mission Viejo, many primary and specialty care clinics, a pediatric residency program, a mental health inpatient center, and four clinical centers of excellence – the CHOC Children’s Heart, Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Hyundai Cancer Institutes.
About Cox Enterprises
Cox Enterprises is a leading communications, media, and automotive services company. With revenues over $20 billion and approximately 60,000 employees, the company’s major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications (cable television distribution, high-speed Internet access, telephone, home security and automation, commercial telecommunications and advertising solutions); Cox Automotive (automotive-related auctions, financial services, media and software solutions); and Cox Media Group(television and radio stations, digital media, newspapers and advertising sales rep firms). The company’s major national brands include Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, and Manheim. Through Cox Automotive, the company’s international operations stretch across Asia, Australia, Europe, and Latin America. To learn more about Cox’s commitment to people, sustainability, and our communities, please visit www.CoxCSRReport.com.
About Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet, telephone and home security and automation services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable company, Cox serves approximately 6 million residences and businesses. Cox Business is a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions for commercial customers, and Cox Media is a full-service provider of national and local cable spot and digital media advertising. Cox is known for its pioneering efforts in broadband, voice and commercial services, industry-leading customer care and its outstanding workplaces. For 10 years, Cox has been recognized as a best operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications; Cox has ranked among DiversityInc’s Top 50 Companies for Diversity 13 times. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com and www.coxmedia.com.
