Transforming Lives: How Our Behavioral Health Consult Program Boosts Efficiency and Makes a Real Difference

In December 2023, USMEPCOM started hiring behavioral health providers, and the results have been impressive. They’ve increased efficiency and cut down wait times for military applicants needing behavioral health consultations. What began with six MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Stations) has expanded to 12, with plans to reach 16 based on demand.

Dr. Megan Hart Lee, the first clinical psychologist on the team, played a key role in creating the framework for the program. She has trained three more psychologists, including Dr. Connor Rose, who joined in February 2025. Rose, an Air Force veteran currently with the Air National Guard, felt drawn to this role because he understands how crucial these assessments are for applicants looking to serve in the military.

The team conducts virtual assessments for applicants, guided by their specific service waiver needs. Out of 65 MEPS, the program focuses on those with the highest demand for behavioral health evaluations. The aim was to address the backlog of applicants waiting for assessments by contracted civilian doctors.

Col. Megan McKinnon, USMEPCOM’s command surgeon, emphasized that this initiative is not about replacing existing consults but about filling gaps where current services fell short. One major success has been reducing the average wait time for behavioral health consults from 25 days to just 12.

As Air Force Maj. Daniel Strickland noted, the team’s goal has been to decrease wait times, and with four new psychologists on board, they are making good progress. This growing team is important because they not only provide quality care but also create more consistent documentation that aids waiver authorities in their evaluations.

Dr. Hart Lee has been instrumental in the program’s advancement. She developed a standardized note template for all providers, which even the contracted civilian doctors now use. She is also working on a tool to streamline behavioral health exams, helping to ensure quality and consistency as the program grows. She plans to expand the program further in 2025, while ensuring they don’t overextend their resources.

As demand for behavioral health services rises—from 4,000 consultations in 2020 to 14,000 last year—this program has become vital to the military’s recruitment process. Col. McKinnon pointed out that an increase in medical exams naturally leads to more required behavioral health consults. The faster the program can work, the quicker applicants can move through the approval process, whether they get a green light or need to explore other options.

For more details on this program, you can read about its beginnings here: Behavioral Health Providers Increasing Processing Efficiency.

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