How EHR software can improve your behavioral health practice?

Introduction:

In today’s digital life, behavioral health issues are common. According to the healthcare foundation, many people seek treatment for behavioral health and visit a doctor’s clinic. Depression, anxiety, diabetes management, weight reduction, smoking cessation, and alcohol or drug abuse are all examples of these diseases.

Behavioral health EHR is created exclusively for behavioral and mental health practitioners.  With features and capabilities tailored to counselors, therapists, behavioral health clinics, and group practices to help them save money while enhancing patient care.

A growing number of healthcare providers are now providing integrated mental health and primary care to their patients. As a result, here’s how EHR software can help you improve your behavioral health practices?

But, before starting this, let’s know about EHR software and behavioral health- what and why?

What is EHR Software?

Electronic health record (EHR) software is a systematic compilation of available patient data that may be shared among numerous providers. It allows a patient’s medical records to follow them around.

What is Behavioral Health?

The study of behavioral health is defined that- actions, physical, mental, and spiritual health is known as behavioral health. Behavioral health encompasses a variety of prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support services for both addiction and mental health.

It’s critical to grasp the concept because 70% of patients have behavioral health disorders that necessitate behavioral health services. This comprises a wide range of medical services, such as mental health care.

• Psychiatric treatment.
• Counseling for couples and families.
• Awareness, intervention, treatment, and recovery from substance abuse.
• Chronic disease management.

Behavioral health, in its most basic form, is the relationship between our everyday habits (both good and bad) and their impact on our physical and mental health.

Why is adoption so high?

As healthcare experts agree on the advantages of behavioral health EHR and health data interchange among clinics and primary care institutions. The usage of EHR in behavioral health has exploded in recent years.

During these pandemic times, EHR systems have swiftly become the industry standard across the board, regardless of specialty. Because EHR is becoming increasingly popular in the healthcare industry.

Intely has compiled a list of the top three reasons why behavioral health is embracing EHR software at a faster rate. These are: –

• Greater Usability:

As the market for behavioral health, EHR technology has grown, especially, and specifically EHR solutions have emerged.

It can be better equipped to maximize productivity and assist behavioral health practitioners in providing better patient care. For a variety of reasons, improved usability in a behavioral health EHR is critical.

Aside from increased productivity, Behavioral health EHR software with high usability scores will help with the transition from paper to electronic records. In that case, many clinicians will face when implementing health IT solutions for the first time.

Usability, along with a clear grasp of EHR advantages, is the major driver in growing health IT adoption across the behavioral health community. According to a recent study published in Perspectives in Health Information Management.

• Integrated Care:

With the advent of value-based care in healthcare, integrated care between behavioral and physical health communities has become more important. This care strategy, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, is crucial for several reasons.

About half of all mental health care for common psychiatric diseases is provided in primary care settings, such as a doctor’s office. Adults with major mental illnesses and substance use disorders. They are more likely to develop persistent physical illnesses and die younger than the general population.

People who suffer from common physical ailments are also more likely to suffer from mental illnesses. The usage of behavioral health EHR is one of the best methods to encourage better integrated, collaborative care between the two populations.

According to research, published in the journal of the American Board of family medicine, both integrated primary and behavioral healthcare is becoming more popular. Because it is supported by value-based payment systems. It also provides the necessary treatment to those who manage behavioral health disorders.

• Improved Care Coordination:

EHR software is highly advantageous for behavioral health clinics since it enables communication among clinicians. It helps to reduce unnecessary duplication of services.

For example, a patient may not be able to tell if he or she is receiving unnecessary care. It must rely on professionals to ensure that services are delivered efficiently.

It’s no wonder that behavioral health practitioners are adopting health IT solutions like EHR technology. At higher rates than in previous years, given the clinical and financial stakes.

Why do we need a behavioral health EHR?

Just like any other medical facility, a mental health clinic’s staff may be called upon to assist patients and family members on any given day.

When clients arrive for their appointments, they are greeted, their insurance coverage and personal contact information are checked. Then, they are directed to comfortable exam or consultation rooms.

Depending on the nature of the visit, a nurse or medical assistant may take vital signs and update the patient’s record. This guarantees that the file is up to date and correct.

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On the other hand, caring for the 25% of Americans who suffer from mental diseases is often more challenging than providing primary care. Finding a better paradigm of integrating medical therapy with behavioral health treatments is critical for the mental health community.

Medical results for people with chronic and acute diseases improve when adequate mental health. Substance addiction therapy is delivered alongside primary care services, according to numerous studies.

The problem is finding solutions that improve care delivery while also addressing financial and organizational constraints. Better treatment delivery and patient outcomes may be possible with behavioral health practice management software.

Benefits of EHR software for Behavioral Health Practices:

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) continue to gain momentum among medical practitioners. Some paraprofessionals due to the multiple benefits that medical records software delivers to both service providers and patients.

“Forty-six states are either implementing or proposing to incorporate electronic health records” in both psychiatric hospitals and community mental health. According to the US substance abuse and mental health services. Behavioral health professionals are one of the most recent groups to embrace electronic health records.

The following are the five most important advantages of electronic health records for behavioral health clinicians and their patients:

• Simplified information sharing:

Providers can communicate critical information about patients’ diagnoses and treatment plans in real-time with electronic health records. It resulted in major improvements in service delivery and efficiency.

• Improved medication management:

Prescription drug monitoring is an important element of behavioral health services; by using an EHR system from a medical software company. Practitioners may track prescriptions in real-time, lowering the chance of prescription errors. They save patients time from seeing several doctors.

• Exceptional records security:

Unlike paper-based documentation, electronic health records are protected by enhanced digital security. Which protects them from theft, loss, or destruction due to fire or natural disasters.

• Accessible from anywhere:

The capacity to rapidly access patient records via EHRs from any internet-enabled device has benefited in the improvement of the crisis. Some response services among mental health providers. As behavioral health specialists routinely respond to life-threatening events such as suicide threats.

• Streamlined billing:

Behavioral health providers and clinics can avoid costly delays and errors. Which is associated with traditional paper-based invoicing by using customized, adaptable medical records software.

Conclusion:

Our electronic health record (EHR) is designed specifically for behavioral and mental health services. The primary features of Intely EHR are Practice Management, Patient Portal, Telehealth, Scheduling, Charting, Clinical Reports, Financial Reports, and Compliance Reports. All of which are very versatile and adaptive to the changing trends in the behavioral health organization.

Author Bio

Davinci is a research-based contributor for intely, providing content specifically in the Healthcare IT and Digital Health space.