TUKWILA, Wash. — Genoa is launching a telepsychiatry service with its acquisition of 1DocWay Inc., the nation’s largest outpatient telepsychiatry provider.

Called Genoa Telepsychiatry, the service offers a user-friendly platform to connect mental health providers and patients, Genoa said Wednesday. Genoa provides behavioral health and long-term care pharmacy services to more than 400,000 people through its 280 pharmacies in 38 states and the District of Columbia.

According to Genoa, many of the community mental health centers it works with face increased demand for support, and a nationwide psychiatry staffing shortage has hampered their efforts to improve access to care. Telepsychiatry provides a way to fill the gaps in supply and demand for mental health services, including psychiatrist availability, Genoa noted.

“There are currently over 4,000 mental health professional shortage areas nationally, and we will need to be creative to solve this problem,” Mark Peterson, executive vice president of strategy and corporate development at Genoa, said in a statement. “Genoa has worked with our partners for over 15 years to deliver innovative solutions for the unique needs of the behavioral health community. When our partners suggested that we help them find novel remedies to their shortage of psychiatrists, we set out to find ways to assist. We believe telepsychiatry can be a key answer, as its early adopters have touted its acceptance and efficacy in delivering accessible and quality mental health care.

“The shortage of psychiatrists is a major issue in the behavioral health industry, and the addition of 1DocWay’s team and tools will help us provide a solution to this challenge,” Peterson added.

1DocWay is the nation’s largest outpatient telepsychiatry network.

New York-based 1DocWay’s psychiatry delivery network has treated over 25,000 patients in more than 60 clinics across 11 states.

“We chose 1DocWay because they are experts in the field of telepsychiatry, having built the nation’s largest outpatient telepsychiatry network, and they are innovators in technology,” stated Genoa chief executive officer John Figueroa. “We are confident this integration will allow both us and our center partners to better serve the behavioral health community.”

Samir Malik, CEO of 1DocWay, noted that his company has doubled its footprint over the past eight months and expects more growth with the support of Genoa.

“The biggest motivator for us to partner here, more than the opportunity to reach more patients, has been the quality of the team at Genoa,” Mailk commented. “Their pharmacy model has proven to add significant clinical value around medication adherence, with rates unheard of in the industry. That commitment to quality and performance driven care aligns with our mission and values.”