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How Clinical Communication and Collaboration Solutions Benefit Behavioral Health Organizations
Today, the behavioral health community is grappling with the ongoing effects of an unprecedented global pandemic. Many of us have witnessed a surge in care requests first-hand, but research backs up our experiences. A recent scientific brief from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression, with many people’s needs for care going unmet. An American Psychological Association (APA) survey found its members noted a sharp uptick in demand across all treatment areas due to the pandemic, with anxiety, depression, and trauma- and stress-related disorders being most frequent.
As the need for services rises, the US behavioral health market is experiencing a steady upward trajectory. Valued at $90 billion as recently as 2020, the US market is now on track to reach $132 billion in 2027.
On the one hand, this growth signals good news for behavioral health organizations’ financials, but on the other, it also adds a new layer of operational complexity. Behavioral health practices now face pressure to deliver timely care to more patients—and that’s only going to accelerate in the years to come.
To address these emerging challenges, behavioral health providers will need to leverage digital technologies such as clinical communication and collaboration (CC&C) solutions. These solutions streamline critical workflows, facilitate collaboration, are HIPAA compliant, and make delivering mental healthcare a little easier.
One of the greatest strengths of CC&C solutions is the opportunity to break down silos by enabling real-time communication and collaboration. These solutions can serve as a central communications hub that can interface with EHRs and other applications, improving information flow and clinical decision-making—both within and outside the organization.
Patients receiving behavioral health services often receive treatment or support from other care providers, including physicians, nurses, or specialists. With CC&C, behavioral health providers can communicate securely via voice, text, and video with any stakeholder—including patients and their loved ones—even if they are not using the same communications technology. To protect patients’ sensitive information, robust security and HIPAA compliance are essential features for any healthcare solution.
Team members can use CC&C to host virtual consults and visits, allowing patients to connect via a text link instead of logging into a portal or remembering a password. For patients receiving ongoing care, providers can offer education, prescription instruction, and check-ins via secure text messaging to promote adherence to treatment plans. Practices can send patient appointment reminders to reduce no-show rates.
While the information-sharing capabilities of CC&C solutions enhance day-to-day care routines, they can be lifesaving in urgent situations. When immediate intervention is necessary, providers can’t waste minutes or hours working to coordinate care. With CC&C solutions, team members can broadcast emergency messages to ensure care is available at the moment it’s needed.
As an added benefit, CC&C solutions can be used across desktop workstations and mobile devices to let team members communicate with ease, regardless of device or location. This allows for care coordination on the go, leading to a more dynamic approach that is responsive to patient needs.
Although patient care drives behavioral health, organizations must focus on strategies to reduce stress for care team members. CC&C can support the integration of scheduling applications so physicians can manage their schedules with ease. Team members can feel more ownership of their schedules, which allows them to achieve greater work-life balance and reduce burnout.
Technology for the Next Chapter of Behavioral Health Care
The past few years have been full of stressors and tumult for all of us. If there’s a silver lining to the upheaval of the pandemic, it’s that more people are aware of the value of behavioral health treatment and dismissing mental health stigmas. More people are reaching out for care, and behavioral health providers must rise to the occasion and answer the call.
Manual processes and outdated software won’t allow care providers to keep up with the ever-increasing volume of patient care needs. Instead, behavioral health organizations require solutions that reflect the dynamic nature of their business. They need to centralize communications, promote real-time information sharing, and allow all stakeholders to connect, regardless of location or device.
As the behavioral health industry continues to adapt and innovate, care providers can reach more people while streamlining tasks and allowing teams to focus on service delivery. The right CC&C solution can unite care teams, patients, and families to drive better outcomes, leading to a healthier future.
Will O’Connor, MD, is chief medical information officer for TigerConnect.
The views expressed in Perspectives are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Behavioral Healthcare Executive, the Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Learning Network, or other Network authors. Perspectives entries are not medical advice.
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