As behavioral healthcare is increasingly delivered virtually and in person, clinicians and practice managers need a reliable way to keep client records, ensure high-quality care, track revenue, and maintain compliance. Many practices rely on several separate systems to address these needs, but at what cost? Behavioral health practice EHR systems offer significant benefits and advantages for patients, clinical teams, and the entire practice.
Hybrid practices face unique challenges compared to their brick-and-mortar counterparts. For example, it is not always an option to walk down the hall and check in with a clinician or patient to address an issue. Serving patients from different states adds another layer of complexity in meeting various state billing and documentation regulations.
Many professionals have also expressed concerns about the potential for decreased engagement when sessions are delivered virtually. However, the American Psychological Association (APA) supports the efficacy and opportunity for greater access to care when telehealth is offered. That said, you should ensure that regulatory requirements are being met and that your hybrid practice is running efficiently.
1. Consistent measurement-based care
As an evidence-based practice recommended by the APA, measurement-based care (MBC) increases engagement and improves patient outcomes. However, many clinicians need help to keep up with these measures consistently. Routine delivery of MBC enables therapists to tailor each session to the patient’s needs.
2. Better patient outcomes
A behavioral health practice EHR system lends itself to evidence-based practice and greater patient engagement, so it’s no surprise when patient outcomes improve.
3. Improved communication and collaboration between providers
EHR systems offer direct communication and sharing of patient-related information. Rather than people having to rely on phone calls and emails, the most current patient details are instantly accessible in the platform. The psychiatrist, therapist, case manager, and medical biller can pull the information that they need when they need it.
4. Simplified compliance with licensing and regulatory bodies
Ensure that documentation is completed on time and up to standard using an EHR system. Notifications can alert clinicians when documentation deadlines are coming up or overdue. Practice managers have a quick overview of what needs attention. An EHR platform eliminates the risk of documentation falling through the cracks and ensures that your practice is always ready for a surprise audit.
5. Streamlined billing processes
Many practices are backed up on insurance claims, having to chase down clients for billing and payment information and falling behind on revenue due to poor processes. Instead, use an EHR system to manage insurance claims and keep track of billing and revenue all in one place with reduced manual processes and fewer mistakes.
6. Increased efficiency
One system that keeps track of the entire patient journey and meets your practice’s needs is significantly more efficient than separate systems for notes, billing, communication, and telehealth.
7. Reduced administrative burden
Reduce the redundancy in administrative tasks by using an EHR system that can auto-populate information where needed and keep everything in one place. The platform saves time and reduces extra work and opportunities for mistakes in patient records.
8. Reduced costs
Fewer manual processes mean lower overhead costs for your practice. A behavioral health practice EHR platform reduces your need for additional systems and administrative staff.
9. Better patient engagement
When patients have fewer barriers to communication with their providers, they engage more. Secure messaging, access to scheduling, and options for telehealth sessions right from their computer or mobile device promote greater therapeutic engagement.
10. Greater flexibility
Appointment changes, patient progress updates, and communication improvements can be accomplished quickly and easily within one system, enabling greater flexibility for patients and providers.
11. Increased connection and ability to manage remote staff
Managing staff who operate remotely or on a hybrid schedule can be challenging. Practices that don’t have the infrastructure to support this setup risk losing connection with their team and having less oversight. A behavioral health practice EHR system resolves this issue by offering transparent processes and efficiently managing responsibilities and workloads.
12. Reduced stress on clinicians
A primary driver for clinician stress and burnout is the documentation burden. Navigating too many confusing systems that don’t communicate with one another and redundancy in documentation across these systems add time and stress to a clinician’s day. A simple, straightforward system is one way to lower the added pressure caused by administrative tasks.
If you have a hybrid therapy practice, you offer significant benefits to your patients and clinicians. However, there are many challenges to running this type of practice efficiently. While separate systems can address various needs, it’s better to have one platform built specifically for the unique needs of your practice.
Behavioral health EHR systems are essential to the success of hybrid therapy practices. They are simple and cost effective and make sense for practices that care about their staff and that strive to deliver the best quality of care to their patients.
Here at CarePaths, we help therapists work more effectively and improve patient outcomes. To learn more about how we can help you, start your free trial today!
