Behavioral healthcare has come a long way over the last few decades. There’s a greater appreciation for the role mental health and substance use disorder treatment play in creating healthier communities. These concerns know no boundaries when it comes to socioeconomic status, so the rise of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in mental health has been a welcome change.
The CCBHC model of care is one that is committed to providing accessible, integrated care to diverse populations, regardless of the client’s ability to pay. From the concept’s beginnings in 2017 with a pilot program of 66 locations across eight states, it has taken root across the country. As of September 2023, there were more than 500 CCBHCs operating across 46 states as well as the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.
The rapid growth of the CCBHC model of care demonstrates the need for quality behavioral care across all populations. It also highlights the importance of technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of such services. One of the most critical technologies in this regard is electronic health records (EHRs).
The Need for Modern EHR Platforms
CCBHCs provide a comprehensive range of evidence-based mental health services, often working in close concert with numerous partners. EHRs are essential within this context because it ensures all entities involved in a particular client’s care are always on the same page. For example, information from a primary care provider is synced instantly to the client’s EHR, enabling that data to be accessed by the CCBHC to help guide treatment plans.
In this way, the use of EHRs makes coordinating person-centered care much easier, ensuring continuity across all caregivers. It also facilitates the most efficient data collection possible, providing extensive reporting of quality metrics. This means adherence to best practices becomes much simpler and more manageable. Integrating EHRs into the CCHBC experience also makes it possible for care to extend beyond the walls of the clinic. The technology ensures accessibility to all by offering remote services that can be accessed at home, at school or practically anywhere else a client may require help.
Key Features of a Modern EHR Platform
EHR platforms are critical components of how CCHBCs deliver care to their clients, but not all of them may provide the benefits these clinics need. These clinics need to be on the lookout for a feature set that will enable them to provide the highest-quality care to the largest possible population. Key features an EHR platform should have include:
- Robust Integrations: The ideal EHR software for CCHBCs should be a unified platform that integrates all departments, including inpatient and outpatient services. This is critical for providing the holistic care that is so important within this context.
- Enhanced Interoperability: Collaborating organizations should be able to enter data directly into the client’s EHR. This facilitates information exchange between partners and can ensure all providers are kept up-to-date on each client’s progress.
- Streamlined Workflows: An EHR system needs to be able to capture CCHBC-mandated clinical measures and state-specific metrics to help clinics with their quality improvement initiatives.
- Remote Access: Clinicians and staff members should be able to access client records wherever they are, even when they have limited Internet connectivity. The platform also should provide robust security measures to protect client data.
Having the Right Technology Makes a Difference
With the use of EHR, the role of CCHBCs in mental health is assured. Having an EHR platform that is tailored to the specific requirements of these clinics is essential for optimizing care delivery, improving operational efficiency and ensuring the best possible outcomes for clients. Streamline Healthcare’s SmartCare™ EHR helps CCHBCs fulfill their vital role in building stronger, healthier communities because it was built with these providers in mind. To learn more, contact us today to talk about how it can help you or request a demo.
