We’re living in the 21st Century, but even today, talking about mental health is difficult. The reason? Social stigma around mental health is why people do not prefer discussing the issues they are going through. The fear of discrimination also holds people back from seeking professional help.
The number of people suffering from mental health issues is alarming. Reportedly, 22.8% of adults in the United States suffered from mental illnesses in 2021. Do you think all of them received treatment to alleviate their symptoms? Definitely, not. More than half of these people didn’t receive any treatment. Besides the stigma, lack of resources is the reason that prevents people from seeking professional help.
However, recent technological breakthroughs have opened a completely new arena for the use of technology in the field of mental health. It’s because of this innovation that patients are able to seek mental health treatment conveniently.
That said, here are some technologies that mental health practitioners are currently leveraging to improve patient care:
1) Telehealth
Telehealth surged in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, but its origins can be traced back to the 1800s. The widespread adoption of telehealth has benefited particularly those who live in rural areas.
Sometimes referred to as telemedicine, telehealth has been a game-changer for mental health practitioners and patients. It’s only because of telehealth that practitioners are able to offer remote care to those in need.
Due to the lack of qualified therapists, people suffering from mental health issues such as depression and anxiety are unable to seek help for their disorders. Even if therapists are available, some disorders make it impossible for patients to leave their homes.
But that isn’t a problem anymore, as patients can connect with therapists virtually and seek help. Many times, people hesitate to share their feelings with practitioners in a clinical setting due to the fear of being judged. But thanks to telehealth, patients are able to speak openly with ease.
Besides patients, telehealth has also been a boon for practitioners. A recent American Medical Association (AMA) study reveals that 75 percent of clinicians believe telehealth facilitates quality care, and 68% want to increase its use.
2) Patient Engagement Solutions
Over the last decade, there has been a widespread increase in the adoption of patient portals. Patient portals are a kind of personal health record that is linked to an EHR or electronic health record system, providing patients with secure access to their information. Simultaneously, it promotes patient-centered care and high-quality healthcare delivery.
Features of patient portals include a host of features like secure messaging, medication charts, appointment scheduling, laboratory results, allergy lists, and after-visit summaries. Multiple studies indicate that access to patient portals can improve disease management and results among varied patient populations.
3) Mental Health Billing Software
A fairly large number of practitioners have started leveraging mental health billing software to streamline the process of submitting insurance claims. As practitioners already have a lot on their plates, they often end up making errors in claim submissions.
Due to mistakes in codes or patient information, their claim gets rejected, leading to payment delays. Thankfully, medical billing software has eliminated these complexities.
Besides simplifying the billing process, mental health billing software allows practitioners to verify their patients’ insurance eligibility and coverage details before providing services. This prevents denials and helps in determining deductibles upfront.
What’s more? Many mental health billing software solutions can be integrated with electronic health record systems. This allows for the seamless transfer of patients’ treatment information, diagnostic codes, etc.
It’s important for practitioners to join hands with a mental health billing company whose solutions can be integrated with EHR, as it enhances the efficiency of clinical and billing processes.
Pysquel advises practitioners to select a solution that is HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant, as it keeps patients’ data secure, keeping them safe from cyber attackers.
4) Self-Check-In Kiosks
Managing patient flow has always been challenging for mental healthcare facilities. Providing a calm and comfortable place where patients can relax before meeting their therapist is important. At the same time, they also need to protect their patient’s privacy and sensitive details.
Self-check-in kiosks are the perfect solution. They not only streamline the check-in process, but also make the facility more organized. Once the check-in is complete, such kiosks inform the staff about the patient’s arrival.
Many kiosks also include a credit card slot, allowing patients to complete their payments with a click.
Wrapping Up
To sum it up, mental health practitioners are turning to technologies to improve practice management and enhance patient care. Note that these aren’t the only technologies that are shaping the mental health industry. Many technologies, such as telephony, cloud computing, and short message service (SMS), are also being used by practitioners so that they become more active participants in their treatment.
If you still haven’t started leveraging the power of technology, you might lag behind in the industry. Therefore, it’s about time you start integrating technology into your daily practice, as it will help you deliver personalized care while improving your bottom line.
