Orion Behavioral Health Network’s long history of telehealth makes for smooth transition to remote sessions amid COVID-19 outbreak

WASILLA — Orion Behavioral Health Network has been providing telehealth to Valley residents for over 10 years.

When the time came for Orion CEO Dr. Arom Evan and his staff to transfer all their services to remote assistance due to COVID-19, the process was seamless, according to Medical Director Christopher Dietrich.

“Telemedicine for us, we’ve kind of been way ahead of that curve,” Dietrich said. “Dr. Evans really laid a foundation of providing care in the region that prepared our group to handle the COVID crisis.”

Orion is based out of Eagle River with additional offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks and the Valley.

They offer telehealth services to reach other cities and rural communities across the state, working with groups like the Juneau Youth Facility and Barrow Integrated Behavioral Health. They also work with Kotzebue and RYC in Ketchikan.

“I think patients are more happy to go to telemedicine than they ever were,” Dietrich said.

Orion’s primary focus is treating children and teens with behavioral health needs. So far, new and existing clients have been fairing through this criss pretty well, according to Dietrich.

“The kids are making it great through all this,” Dietrich said.

Dietrich said the most common reasons they work with minors with behavioral needs include learning difficulties, class behavior, ADHD, autism, and depression.

“That’s what I end up seeing the most. Then, I feel like that’s the most rewarding part, being able to help them through, especially depression. You see a lot of positive outcomes,” Dietrich said.

While the main focus is centered on children and adolescents, Orion still serves some adult patients. Dietrich said they limit the amounts and types of adult clientele they work with.

“It’s not that we don’t want to, but the capacity to try to do social work and case management isn’t what we’re built for,” Dietrich said.

Dietrich said they’re currently serving at least 40 to 50 children and adolescents and seeing a bit of an increase in adult clients as of late.

“What the community needs, Orion finds a way,” Dietrich said.

Dietrich noted this is an important time for families to maintain routines for their children. He said they offer a range of support of the phone and they work with local children’s organizations like Ptarmigan Connections so they can refer clients to the right places. He said that families can call them even if they “just want to talk.”

Orion is still taking new patients and they accept insurers like Denali Kid Care.

Valley location is located at Valley Multicare Clinic at 3505 East Meridian Loop Suite 220, Wasilla.

Orion stated on their website that the quickest way to enroll is to complete the new patient forms and fax them to (907)726-0332 or email to info@obhn.org.

Contact Orion Behavioral Health Network at 907-696-7466 to schedule an initial evaluation or visit their website at obhn.org.

For emergencies, call the ACMHS/Providence psychiatric or behavioral crisis line 907-563-3200.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com