North Charlotte Today

StarMed Healthcare and the Steve Smith Family Foundation are teaming up in an effort to improve access to behavioral health treatment in Mecklenburg County.

The Smith Family Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) facility “will serve as an alternative to a hospital Emergency Department where patients with urgent primary behavioral health needs will receive triage and referral services,” WCNC reported.

“We are honored and grateful that StarMed has made the commitment to partner with us in working to address some of the gaps in our community,” Steve Smith told WCNC. “Our foundation looks forward to working with StarMed, along with other committed partners, to no longer sit on the sidelines but instead take action in addressing the behavioral health needs in Mecklenburg County.” 

It’s a natural pairing, a StarMed representative said.

“StarMed Healthcare, much like the Steve Smith Family Foundation, continuously works to improve access for communities with barriers to quality health care,” Michael Estramonte, president and founder of StarMed Healthcare, told WCNC. “That’s why we’re proud to make this donation to a foundation that is doing critically important work.” 

Behavioral health for a long time has taken a back seat to physical problems when it comes to medical treatment. Stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent school shooting in Texas proved that it is time for health care providers to step up.

“Behavioral health and resiliency in our community and across our state has to be a top priority and front of mind for leaders in health care,” Estramonte said. “The complete health of everyone in our community is paramount to StarMed Healthcare, and the work of the Steve Smith Family Foundation aligns directly with our mission.”