How to Overcome the Common Barriers in Adopting EHR for Behavioral Health

Implementing electronic health records (EHR) in behavioral health care is a challenging task, and barriers may slow down the implementation process and the quality of patient care outcomes. 

While there are advantages of EHR systems, including efficiency and better patient outcomes, several Behavioral Health practices face barriers including high costs, complicated procedures of implementation, and resistance to change. These common barriers will be discussed in this blog post as well as solutions. 

This will help to overcome the barriers to effectively adopting EHR for behavioral health and enable behavioral health providers to implement EHR systems that promote patient care and the efficiency of the health systems.

EHR for Behavioral Health

EHR systems have become more important in behavioral healthcare settings over recent years.

The Behavioral health EHR has the following advantages; better patient outcomes, efficiency, and collection of information. 

EHRs tailored for behavioral health can capture complex psychosocial information, track treatment progress, and facilitate care coordination among multiple providers. However, this is the case whilst there are hurdles to EHR system adoption among behavioral health organizations.

Related: The 10-Point Checklist for Selecting a Behavioral Health EHR

Common Barriers to Adopting EHR for Behavioral Health

1. Initial and ongoing cost Concerns

To adopt an EHR system, high capital investment is needed in technology such as: 

• Software Licenses 
• Hardware Upgrades  
• Infrastructural changes. 

Over time, updated software, technical support, and routine maintenance prove to be expensive for any practice, especially for small practices. 

Some argue that it is costly to implement when many behavioral health organizations have thin margins of profit.

However, main rewards like efficiency enhancement and the achievement of a higher amount of positive outcomes for patients usually overcome the costs with time.

2. Resistance to Adopting New Technologies

Change and adopting new technologies is never easy, especially in healthcare organizations. 

Many behavioral health professionals are accustomed to traditional paper-based systems and may resist transitioning to digital platforms. This resistance is caused by:

• Fear of technology
• Concerns about workflow disruptions
• Preference for familiar methods

To overcome this kind of resistance, there is a need to make good policy communication about the advantages of EHRs and design good training programs.

3. Complexity of Behavioral Health Data

Information related to behavioral health is often complex, making it challenging to capture in standardized EHR formats. Unlike physical health records, behavioral health information may include: 

• Detailed narrative notes
• Subjective assessments
• Complex treatment plans

These flexibilities require EHR systems to be sufficiently open to store such data while maintaining structure and the possibility of searching for the needed information.

This complexity can make it challenging to select or implement appropriate EHR solutions to the behavioral health practice.

4. Integration with Existing System Challenges

Most Behavioral Health organizations are already operating using different software systems for issues such as scheduling, and billing, among others.

Thus, it can be technically complex and labor-intensive to integrate the new EHR system with these existing platforms. 

Conflicts can also come up due to differences in system compatibility and result in either data integration problems or the entry of similar data in different systems.

This calls for the integration of EHRs and other care delivery systems to be as smooth as possible to optimize the effectiveness of their use.

5. Data Privacy and Security

Records in behavioral health involve extremely private information, and therefore issues of data confidentiality are critical.

Laws such as the HIPAA laws are very strict concerning the protection of patients’ information. The establishment and sustenance of these measures present a rather complicated and expensive affair. 

In specific organizations, concerns about data security and protection from external threats can be a key reason to resist the implementation of EHR systems, despite the potential benefits they offer for improving patient care and practice management.

6. Staff Training and Usability Issues

Since it is a noble attempt to implement EHRs meaningfully, staff training is many and comprehensive thus disruptive in daily activities. 

Similar to security issues, usability issues like difficult designs or unstructured interfaces and workflows do pose a problem as they hinder the performance of the user reducing productivity. 

To maximize the return on investment and at the same time offer quality service to clients, all the healthcare staff should be conversant with the EHR system. To overcome updates, new features, and a high rate of staff turnover, training, and support must be provided in the long term.

Related: How EHR Automation Tools Can Improve Clinical Notes for Behavioral Health

How to Overcome the Challenges in Adopting EHR for Behavioral Health

1. Secure Grants & Focus on Core Features

Identify available government grants or funding which are specially meant for funding EHR in behavioral health facilities.

Concerning EHR selection, opting for additional systems can be counterproductive; the main focus should be to define basic functions sufficient to meet your practice requirements. 

It also serves to avoid the development of additional costs by guaranteeing that optimum benefit is received from the cash used in investment. Evaluate cloud strategies, that are typically less expensive and require less IT investment initially.

2. Engage Staff with Gradual Implementation & Training

Engage the staff in the EHR selection process so that they can feel some ownership of the system that will be implemented.

Start using the system partially, contaminating its basic functions, and then adding new components in the future. 

Train extensively specify the tasks you expect to be done, and offer additional support permanently. Develop a core group of ‘EHR specialists; these can help their colleagues as well as advocate for the new system.

3. Customize EHRs & Promote Industry Standards

Select an EHR system that can be customized according to the requirements of the storage of behavioral health data.

Consult with your vendors and come up with the best templates and workflow that would address your practice needs. 

Promote uniformity in behavioral health EHR systems to be used across organizations to enhance data sharing. Incorporate yourself in the professional organizations that are in the process of setting standards.

4. Enhance Security & Educate Your Team

Invest in robust security measures, including encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular security audits. Develop and enforce clear policies for data access and sharing. 

Educate your team about the importance of data security and their role in maintaining it. Stay informed about evolving security threats and regulations, and update your systems and practices accordingly. Regular training sessions can help reinforce good security habits.

5. Select Compatible EHRs & Ensure Smooth Data Migration

Choose an EHR system that provides a platform for integration with other software you want to use in your healthcare facility.

Develop good relationships with the vendors to ensure the easy transfer and integration of data. It may be useful to employ the services of a health IT consultant to assume the responsibilities of coordinating and addressing problems with integration. 

The vital information should be migrated with the help of a comprehensive data migration plan. Perform trial runs of the integrated system before full deployment is done.

6. Opt for User-Friendly EHRs & Support Ongoing Learning

Select an EHR system with an easy-to-use interface and one that meets the needs of the chosen workflows. Deliver practical skills in sessions and develop simple things like concise checklists, and video demos.

Create a feedback mechanism for usability problems so that they can be resolved as soon as they are detected. 

Provide seasonal courses to enhance the knowledge of the staff on the updates in the system as well as new additions. It might be useful to identify so-called “super users” who could help others.

Vozo EHR for Behavioral Health Practice

Though many Mental Health EHR solutions are available on the internet, Vozo stands in the separate line by offering exceptional solutions for Mental Healthcare Professionals.

Vozo has a wide range of key features like an advanced user-friendly interface, seamless integration with mental health tools, accurate reporting, and analytics, specialized templates for mental health, etc…

Our exceptional solution for All Levels of Mental Healthcare Practice;

• Vozo has an advanced user-friendly interface, even non-techy healthcare professionals and staff members can handle and manage it with ease.
• Our Support team will cover your back 24/7, whenever you need technical support, our team will assist you.
• Vozo’s Subscription plan is budget-friendly and benefits all levels of healthcare practices.
• Data Migration to the Vozo EHR system is made easy, yet our support team will assist you.
• We provide comprehensive training and ongoing support for healthcare professionals and staff members.
• Vozo complies with regulatory standards and ensures high data safety and security.

“Empower Vozo’s Mental Health EHR Solution for Mental Health Patients Outcomes. Sign up and get a free demo“