Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Episode: Building Integrated, Measurement Based Behavioral Health at Scale with Shannon Werb of Array Behavioral Care
Date: January 2, 2026
Host: Jacob Emerson
Guest: Shannon Werb, CEO, Array Behavioral Care

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the transformation of behavioral health care delivery through technology, integrated care pathways, and a unique clinician employment model, as outlined by Shannon Werb of Array Behavioral Care. The discussion explores how Array leverages virtual care, measurement-based pathways, and an Epic-based EHR system to drive consistent, high-quality outcomes at national scale for behavioral health patients, while offering advice to health system leaders facing the build vs. buy vs. partner dilemma.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shannon Werb’s Background and Array’s Mission (00:17–03:42)

• Werb’s Experience:

  • Career focused on scaling tech-enabled healthcare service organizations, first in radiology, followed by acute care and, as of 2023, behavioral health at Array.
  • Emphasizes experience in both pure virtual and hybrid care models.

• Array’s Approach:

  • National, all-virtual behavioral health provider operating across the full continuum (acute care, outpatient, in-home, tribal, correctional, community clinics).
  • Uses a fully interoperable Epic-based clinical platform for integrated care.
  • Mission: “transform behavioral healthcare..., continually innovating these care models to define new standards, standards of excellence for patients” (B, 02:53).
  • Focuses on meeting patients "where they are," integrating services seamlessly even as patients move between care settings.

2. The Value of Direct Employment for Clinicians (03:42–06:53)

• Practice vs. Network:

  • Distinction between an internal practice and a loosely connected network.
  • Array employs clinicians (W2), investing in their training, benefits, and culture development.

• Benefits Highlighted:

  • Consistency & Accountability: More stable care experiences for patients.
  • Reduced Turnover: Lower churn compared to contractor models, leading to standardized care.
  • Culture Building: “We are really trying to create this environment that embraces the fact that...behavioral health is a relationship driven field and therefore consistency and accountability really matter...” (B, 04:41).
  • Stats: 90% W2-employed clinicians; 80% are full-time (over 30 hours/week).

3. Advice for Health System Leaders: Build, Buy, or Partner? (06:53–10:39)

• Key Pillars for Hospital Partners:

  • Reliability: Stable, dependable clinician workforce.
  • Alignment: Training clinicians specifically on each partner’s workflows and quality standards.
  • Continuity: Consistent care pathways across all clinicians.
  • Scalability: Efficient recruitment and credentialing process.

• On Build vs. Buy:

  • Not a binary decision.
  • Emphasis on partnership: “I'm not sure I would look at it necessarily black and white where you have to choose one versus the other.” (B, 08:51)
  • Health systems should choose which capabilities to own and which to augment via partners like Array who can deliver integrated staffing, leadership, workflows, and technology.

4. Implementing Measurement-Based Care with Care Pathways (10:39–15:58)

• Defining Care Pathways:

  • Structured, evidence-based approach matching patients to the "right care at the right time and the right dose” based on risk, acuity, and clinical presentation.

• Why It Matters:

  • Reduces “unwarranted variation in care.”
  • Approaches measurement-based care operationally—actively using data to tailor and adjust care, not just collecting it.

• Role of Epic Platform:

  • Epic enables real-time data access, template-driven documentation, and decision support.
  • Supports cross-setting continuity: “a patient in the ER is discharged safely and transitioned to care in the home, ultimately allowing us to make sure we’re closing the fragmentation gap...” (B, 14:21)
  • High adherence rate: in the high-90 percentiles for care path assignment and execution.

• Outcomes and Future Plans:

  • Pathways running for 13+ months, with data soon to be published on care outcomes (B, 15:41).

5. 2025 Behavioral Health Industry Reflections & Looking Ahead (15:58–20:50)

• Notable 2025 Industry Trends:

  • Increased emergency department volumes and higher acuity presentations.
  • About 15-16% more patient volume year-over-year among existing partners.
  • Persistent workforce shortages.

• Emergent Themes:

  • Integration is Essential: Demand for integrated, interoperable solutions over point solutions.
  • Accountability: Health systems increasingly seek clinically accountable partners with rigorous quality programs and direct employment models.
  • Data-Enablement & Cross-Setting Care: Expectation that services are “data enabled” and track patients across all care settings.
  • Partnership over Transaction: “We’re just not another telesyc service. We’re really somebody that can bring yes, staffing, but clinical models, technology and data to the table.” (B, 18:26)

• Outlook for 2026:

  • Direct-to-consumer behavioral health companies will increasingly move towards partnering with hospitals and health systems.
  • Array is poised for this shift, with strengths in acute and lower-acuity care, integrated technology, and a long history as a hospital partner.

6. Final Advice & Closing Thoughts (20:50–21:56)

• Werb’s Parting Advice for Health System Leaders:
  • Emphasizes integrated, measurement-based care across care settings, enabled by advanced EHR.
  • “We have this opportunity to take care of patients across multiple levels of acuity, multiple settings of care. We do that leveraging measurement based care pathways and we do that on a modern electronic health record that ensures patients don't fall through the cracks and we can communicate our work safely and correctly back to the health systems that we partner with.” (B, 21:11)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Practice Model vs. Network:

  “Behavioral health is a relationship driven field and therefore consistency and accountability really matter…” —Shannon Werb (04:41)

• On Build vs. Buy:

  “I'm not sure I would look at it necessarily black and white where you have to choose one versus the other.” —Shannon Werb (08:51)

• On Measurement-Based Care Pathways:

  “We have a phrase we call the right care at the right time. And the right dose…and so every new patient receives an assessment…that allows our clinician...to match the patient to the right level and right intensity of care.” —Shannon Werb (12:13)

• On Epic as an Enabler:

  “Epic gives our clinicians the information, workflows they need to consistently apply pathways at scale.” —Shannon Werb (14:02)

• On 2025 Industry Evolution:

  “Integration is no longer optional...Accountability is becoming much more of a differentiator.” —Shannon Werb (18:40)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|------------| | Werb’s background & Array overview | 00:17–03:42| | Employee practice model vs. network | 03:42–06:53| | Build, buy, or partner advice | 06:53–10:39| | Care pathways and measurement-based care | 10:39–15:58| | Reflections on 2025, trends, and outlook | 15:58–20:50| | Final advice to health system leaders | 20:50–21:56|

Overall Tone & Takeaways

The conversation is strategic yet practical, with Werb offering candid advice and clear frameworks for healthcare executives grappling with scaling behavioral health programs. The emphasis is on the importance of integrated, data-driven systems, a stable and accountable clinical team, and adaptive partnership models. Array’s consistent thread is leveraging sophisticated technology (notably Epic) to overcome fragmentation and drive truly patient-centered behavioral health care.

This summary is intended to equip healthcare leaders, executives, and clinicians with the key insights from the episode, enabling informed decisions on integrating, scaling, and improving behavioral health care within their organizations.