Creating mental health progress notes to document your patient sessions can consume a major part of your workday. If you are running a practice, you also have to worry about scheduling, billing, and audits. You have to be prepared for the many unexpected things that can occur, as patients can sometimes be unpredictable. Electronic health records or EHR software systems can simplify your job and web-based programs make it possible to work from any computer at any location.
Documenting your mental health sessions can be tedious and time consuming. If you make these notes on your own, you must include your observations and patient assessments. You may also have to create treatment plans to recommend appropriate interventions. EHR software includes many templates and you can make a detailed note easily without typing it out or dictating it and paying for expensive transcription services.
The process of evaluating and treating patients can be complex. The mental health clinician must plan for proper care including different types of therapy and medication choices. To further complicate matters, you have to know how to assign the appropriate CPT or E&M code for each patient encounter, ensuring that you don't overcode or undercode. EHR systems eliminate a lot of the difficult and tedious work and can help ensure that your notes will withstand an audit.
An effective EHR program makes managing patients a simple process. For example, appointments are easily scheduled and kept track of, with reminders when needed. You can easily collect co-pays at the time of service. You also have the benefit of an electronic prescribing feature. You no longer have to fill out any prescription forms. All you have to do is enter the information into the software and send it directly to the patient's local pharmacy.
A valuable feature of effective EHR software is its charting capability. Initial evaluations, treatment plans, and progress notes are all easily charted, signed, and stored electronically. No more lost or misplaced paper files. Billing is also greatly simplified with the right software. This includes credit card payments and claims submission.
When selecting the right EHR system, support is one of the most important considerations. Make sure that you get support as part of the base service so you are not forced to pay extra. Phone support is best as it is immediate and lets you take care of any problems as they arise. To be sure you are getting the best program, choose a solution that comes with a free trial. This allows you to fully evaluate the software before you buy, and there are no surprises.
Your new EHR application should have the highest of security measures. It should be in compliance with all HIPAA standards. This insures that you have the most secure application available. The more secure programs have encrypted data transmission along with password protection and user authentication. Your solution should also be ONC-ATCB certified so that you may apply for meaningful use incentives if you are eligible.
When shopping for internet-based software for mental health progress notes, choose a solution that allows you to manage your entire practice and that is specialized for mental health. You should not have to make an annual commitment as many good programs allow you to cancel with as little as 15 days notice. When you select the best software for your needs, you and your staff will be able to focus more time on patient care.
Documenting your mental health sessions can be tedious and time consuming. If you make these notes on your own, you must include your observations and patient assessments. You may also have to create treatment plans to recommend appropriate interventions. EHR software includes many templates and you can make a detailed note easily without typing it out or dictating it and paying for expensive transcription services.
The process of evaluating and treating patients can be complex. The mental health clinician must plan for proper care including different types of therapy and medication choices. To further complicate matters, you have to know how to assign the appropriate CPT or E&M code for each patient encounter, ensuring that you don't overcode or undercode. EHR systems eliminate a lot of the difficult and tedious work and can help ensure that your notes will withstand an audit.
An effective EHR program makes managing patients a simple process. For example, appointments are easily scheduled and kept track of, with reminders when needed. You can easily collect co-pays at the time of service. You also have the benefit of an electronic prescribing feature. You no longer have to fill out any prescription forms. All you have to do is enter the information into the software and send it directly to the patient's local pharmacy.
A valuable feature of effective EHR software is its charting capability. Initial evaluations, treatment plans, and progress notes are all easily charted, signed, and stored electronically. No more lost or misplaced paper files. Billing is also greatly simplified with the right software. This includes credit card payments and claims submission.
When selecting the right EHR system, support is one of the most important considerations. Make sure that you get support as part of the base service so you are not forced to pay extra. Phone support is best as it is immediate and lets you take care of any problems as they arise. To be sure you are getting the best program, choose a solution that comes with a free trial. This allows you to fully evaluate the software before you buy, and there are no surprises.
Your new EHR application should have the highest of security measures. It should be in compliance with all HIPAA standards. This insures that you have the most secure application available. The more secure programs have encrypted data transmission along with password protection and user authentication. Your solution should also be ONC-ATCB certified so that you may apply for meaningful use incentives if you are eligible.
When shopping for internet-based software for mental health progress notes, choose a solution that allows you to manage your entire practice and that is specialized for mental health. You should not have to make an annual commitment as many good programs allow you to cancel with as little as 15 days notice. When you select the best software for your needs, you and your staff will be able to focus more time on patient care.
About the Author:
To discover how you can create thorough narrative mental health progress notes in minutes without typing or dictating, visit ICANotes.com for a test drive or to view sample mental health progress notes and a 2-minute progress note video demo.
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