Helping others balance behavioral health via mind, body and spirit

A behavioral health electronic health record (EHR) is a digital platform used by healthcare providers to manage patient information related to mental health and addictions. It works by securely storing patient data in a centralized database that can be accessed by authorized personnel. The EHR typically includes features like progress notes, treatment plan and medication management.

Three important things about behavioral health EHRs are:

• They are designed specifically for mental health and substance use treatment

• They improve the quality of care by providing accurate and up-to-date patient information

• They increase efficiency and productivity by reducing paperwork and improving communication between healthcare providers

Using a behavioral health EHR has several benefits, including:

• Improved patient care by providing a holistic view of the individual in treatment

• Increased efficiency and productivity by reducing paperwork and streamlining administrative tasks

• Improved communication between healthcare providers Other benefits of behavioral health EHRs are better medication management, streamlined billing and insurance claims, maximized revenue and increased data security.

There are a core set of features for an EHR specifically architected for behavioral health. These should include:

• Assessments that inform the treatment plan

• Ability to document services and progress notes that reference the treatment plan

• Ability to schedule individual and group services - 360 medication management and e-prescribing

• Secure messaging and communication between healthcare providers Other common features of behavioral health EHRs include appointment scheduling, insurance and billing management and outcome tracking.

When choosing a behavioral health EHR, it is important to consider several factors, including:

• An EHR that has been specially developed for behavioral health

• The specific needs of your practice or organization

• Compatibility with your current systems and technology

• Ability of the EHR to scale the full continuum of human services Other factors to consider may include the software's ease of use, the availability of training and support and the level of flexibility and configuration offered by the software.

There are several legal and ethical considerations to keep in mind when using a behavioral health EHR, including:

• The need to protect patient privacy and confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA regulations

• The need to ensure the accuracy and completeness of patient information

• The importance of obtaining informed consent from patients before using their data in research or for other, secondary purposes

• The ability for a solution to assist an organization in obtaining and maintaining accreditation, as well as being ONC certified platforms

Other legal and ethical considerations may include compliance with state and federal regulations, maintaining data security and ensuring that healthcare providers are properly trained to use the software.

Softbir has been building behavioral health EHR platforms for years and has partnered with organizations to help them overcome challenges in providing care across the human services community, streamlining care delivery and improving outcomes. Softbir has EHRs that were designed with clinical workflows in mind, as many of its employees come from clinical backgrounds.

Behavioral health software can help healthcare organizations connect with other providers across care settings––allowing for the delivery of integrated care by driving collaboration. The Softbir behavioral health EHR platform supports the delivery of integrated care by allowing providers to efficiently track services, securely share data and measure outcomes.

Softbir's behavioral health solutions support the delivery of integrated care across a range of care settings, including health homes, accountable care organizations (ACOs), community mental health centers, inpatient hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Certified Community Behavioral Clinics (CCBHC). Additionally, broader connectivity to the entire healthcare ecosystem will be required as government entities continue to move toward value-based care models.