Family Physician Teresa Lovins, MD, Says A Simple Phone Call Could Save a Life

Teresa Lovins, MD, is a board-certified family physician and owner of Lovin My Health DPC in Columbus, Indiana, where she delivers comprehensive primary care with a strong focus on patient-centered communication and continuity of care. As the leader of a direct primary care practice, Lovins is experienced in building ongoing therapeutic relationships and leveraging modern care approaches for patients facing emotional and behavioral health struggles, including individuals at risk for suicide.

In a recent interview with Patient Care,^© Lovins emphasized the critical role of prompt follow-up after a patient expresses suicidal ideation or has been referred for additional support. Studies consistently show that the period immediately following a mental health crisis or hospital discharge is among the highest-risk times for suicide attempts or death, with the risk of suicide up to 66 times higher than the general population within 30 days post-discharge.¹ Early and proactive follow-up—such as a next-day check-in—provides opportunities to review the safety plan, confirm patient engagement with recommended services, and identify new risks, significantly reducing rates of repeat attempts and improving patient safety. Systematic reviews also reveal that even brief follow-up contacts, such as a phone call, can make a measurable difference in reducing suicidal behaviors.¹

Recent research supports Dr. Lovins' emphasis on virtual care and telehealth check-ins. A 2024 national cohort study found that an increased proportion of virtual mental health visits was associated with a statistically significant reduction in suicide-related events, suggesting virtual follow-up may be protective and particularly effective for maintaining close engagement during vulnerable periods.² Telehealth appointments offer benefits such as convenience, quicker scheduling, and increased patient comfort, which can supplement traditional in-person care.²

Primary care clinicians employ several tools to ensure high-risk patients do not slip through the cracks: structured safety planning, use of electronic medical records for prompts and reminders, regular performance monitoring, scheduled staff phone calls, and integration of collaborative care models or digital outreach methods—all shown to support effective suicide prevention and follow-up in outpatient settings.²

In the short video above, Lovins is emphatic about the importance of that immediate support.

The following transcript has been lightly edited for flow and style.

Patient Care: What role does follow-up care play in primary care, and how can physicians make sure patients don’t slip through the cracks? What tools are most useful for primary care?

Teresa Lovins, MD: I think we now have many more opportunities through virtual care to provide close follow-up. For example, even if I send someone to the hospital, I can check in with them the very next day to ensure they followed through on what we discussed as part of their safety plan. Ideally, we bring them back in for a more robust follow-up within a few days to a couple of weeks. Getting our staff involved is also key—sometimes just a phone call from a staff member can be a huge help in keeping patients on track with where they want and need to be.

References

1. Che SE, Gwon YG, Kim K-Y, et al. Follow-up timing after discharge and suicide risk among patients hospitalized with psychiatric illness. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6;(10):e2336767. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.36767
2. Kenso K, Strobotne K, Garrido MM, et al. Virtual mental health care and suicide-related events. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(11):e2443054.  doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.43054