The behavioral health tech industry is at a crossroads, with telehealth emerging as a critical component of modern health care delivery. Array Behavioral Care, a leader in virtual behavioral health services, is stepping into this new era with a fresh vision and a renewed sense of purpose. Under the leadership of newly appointed CEO Shannon Werb, the company is poised to revolutionize the patient experience by offering a unified continuum of virtual care services.
Werb, a seasoned executive with a proven track record in scaling digital health organizations, brings a wealth of experience and a clear strategic direction to Array. His appointment, along with the addition of a new chief medical officer and chief financial officer, signals a transformative phase for the company as it seeks to capitalize on the growing demand for telehealth services.
A New Leadership Team with Bold Ambitions
Array Behavioral Care’s recent C-suite shakeup reflects its commitment to innovation and growth. Shannon Werb, who previously served as COO of DispatchHealth, where he expanded the company’s reach from 15 to 50 markets, is now at the helm of Array. His expertise in scaling digital health organizations positions him as the ideal leader to guide Array through its next phase of expansion.
Werb’s vision for Array is ambitious yet pragmatic. He aims to streamline the patient experience by connecting the company’s diverse range of services—acute care, longitudinal care, and episodic care—into a seamless continuum. This approach not only enhances patient outcomes but also simplifies the care journey for individuals navigating the complexities of mental health treatment.
Creating a Unified Continuum of Care
At the heart of Werb’s strategy is the idea of creating a more integrated and cohesive patient experience. Currently, Array’s services operate as distinct offerings, but Werb envisions a future where these services are interconnected, providing patients with a smoother transition from one level of care to another.
“Imagine a world where a patient who presents to the ED in a high-acuity scenario is now treated by one of our psychiatrists,” Werb explains. “And that patient ultimately will be admitted or eventually discharged from the hospital. On that discharge, what if we could connect them to a broader set of downstream mental health services provided by Array? Today, they’re more loosely connected. We think there could be much more of a seamless connection from high acuity to low acuity, or from single episodic to longitudinal care, for that patient to take better care of them over the long run.”
This vision is already taking shape, with Array’s team executing a comprehensive plan for 2023 and laying the groundwork for even greater integration in 2024. Key focus areas include integrating clinical services, leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency, and investing in tools to support clinicians.
The Right Time for Expansion
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth services, and the demand for virtual care shows no signs of slowing down. Werb believes that now is the perfect time for Array to scale its operations and solidify its position as a leader in telebehavioral health.
“As we exit COVID, the entire health care ecosystem is now focused on the fact that telehealth was a savior for patients in many different places,” Werb says. “Mental health is one of those areas that we really shined a light on, as far as the opportunity and the need. The fact that the use of telehealth services hasn’t been curbed is a massive opportunity for Array to really continue to be the leader that it has been and scale across the country to deliver these services completely.”
Overcoming Challenges in a Competitive Landscape
While the telehealth market is ripe with opportunity, Werb acknowledges the challenges of building a scalable and sustainable business. Barriers to entry include the need for advanced technology, robust operational capabilities, and effective data utilization. However, he remains confident in Array’s ability to differentiate itself through clinical excellence, operational scalability, and a patient-centric approach.
“Building a scalable telehealth business is not straightforward,” Werb admits. “There are a number of barriers to entry. I hope to create key differentiators for the business by knowing how to build and execute a telehealth service that works across the entire country. That’s going to take technology, it’s going to take operational capabilities, it’s going to take leveraging data really appropriately. So that’s not a small feat by any means.”
Virtual Care for Acute and Serious Mental Illness
Array has long been a pioneer in treating patients with acute and serious mental illness through telehealth. Werb believes that virtual care is not only ready to meet this need but will become increasingly mainstream in the years to come.
“We feel very comfortable with telehealth being ready, and we actually think that’s going to become more and more part of the mainstream,” he says. “You’re going to see more organizations than just Array delivering in this space. Some might look at that as competition, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. That means there’s a tremendous amount of need and opportunity out there.”
Werb emphasizes that Array’s focus will remain on delivering high-quality care and supporting both clinicians and patients. “It starts clinically, but it’s also just backed in how we wrap our services appropriately to support our clinicians and our patients,” he adds.
Partnerships as a Cornerstone of Growth
Partnerships have been a cornerstone of Array’s success, and Werb plans to continue this strategy as the company expands. Earlier this year, Array secured a $25 million investment from CVS Health Ventures, the investment arm of health care giant CVS Health Corp. This partnership, along with a collaboration with US Acute Care Solutions, underscores Array’s commitment to broadening the availability of its services.
“I think the partnership strategy has actually been very successful within Array, so I wouldn’t anticipate a material shift from that strategy by any means,” Werb says. “I think you’ll see more US Acute Care-like partnerships, more hospital-level partnerships, and more payer partnerships as we continue to broaden the availability of our services across the country.”
Looking Ahead: Building on a Strong Foundation
As Array Behavioral Care embarks on this new chapter, Werb is focused on building upon the company’s strong foundation rather than reinventing the wheel. “We’re really building upon a great organization to date versus having to fix or build something brand new out of the box,” he says. “My goal is to expand the great work that’s been done thus far.”
Under Werb’s leadership, Array is well-positioned to lead the charge in transforming the telebehavioral health landscape. By offering a unified continuum of virtual care services, the company is not only enhancing the patient experience but also addressing the growing need for accessible, high-quality mental health care.
Conclusion
Array Behavioral Care’s new leadership team, led by Shannon Werb, is ushering in an exciting era of growth and innovation. With a clear vision for the future, a commitment to clinical excellence, and a focus on partnerships, Array is poised to redefine the way behavioral health care is delivered. As the demand for telehealth services continues to rise, Array’s seamless, patient-centered approach will undoubtedly set a new standard for virtual care in the behavioral health space.
