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A new combined practice management, electronic health record and patient engagement platform from AdvancedMD aims to eliminate cost barriers and other challenges faced by mental health practices with one to three providers.
WHY IT MATTERS
One-third of Americans live in mental healthcare deserts, while one in five adults need behavioral healthcare services, notes AdvancedMD, a developer of cloud-based software for independent medical practices.
But many mental health providers are reluctant to launch independent practices because of the high cost of technology needed to run a compliant organization.
AdvancedMD Now, the new platform, is scaled for practices with one to three providers, the company said on Wednesday.
The subscription-based, unified platform offers full clinical and billing capabilities at a fraction of the cost of full practice management, according to AdvancedMD, and the EHR and patient engagement systems help manage mental health-specific clinical tasks, such as assessments, severity disorder monitoring and outcome-based care.
"Mental healthcare is a crucial component of the healthcare experience – our own research shows 67% of private practices have a behavioral specialist on staff," said Amanda Sharp, CEO of AdvancedMD, in a statement.
"We know that there is a dire need for mental health services across the country," she explained. "Our goal is to ensure mental health providers have access to effective, low-cost software solutions that allow them to launch and scale their own practices."
With the new platform, AdvancedMD aims to eliminate the need for multiple technology vendors, manual data transfers, complex setup and unsustainable overhead, the company said. Features include:
- Purpose-built workflows designed specifically for behavioral health providers with templates and tools aligned to the DSM-5 criteria.
- Charting that supports long-form clinical documentation and treatment and progress planning tools.
- Integrated telehealth capabilities to conduct remote sessions and patient engagement tools that help reduce no-show rates.
Of note, AdvancedMD said earlier this month that it has enabled generative artificial intelligence for pre-visit summaries to give providers using its EHRs a concise view of a patient’s recent medical history before encountering the patient.
A spokesperson for the company also told Healthcare IT News by email on Wednesday that AI use across its platforms will soon expand, generating transcripts and more.
THE LARGER TREND
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General released a report showing that limited behavioral health provider networks offer adequate access to mental health care for enrollees in Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care plans.
Moreover, these networks are sometimes something of a mirage – with their rosters laden with inactive providers, leaving patients nationwide underserved.
With a chronic shortage of mental healthcare providers, particularly in rural areas, virtual care can help ease the rural mental health crisis. Patients can tap into providers licensed in their states but who live elsewhere.
ON THE RECORD
"AdvancedMD Now is an affordable platform that is quick to implement and designed specifically for small mental health groups or solo practices," said Sharp in a statement. "Our goal is to give mental health providers the tools they need to run and scale their business without having to cut corners on features and functionality."
Andrea Fox is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.
