March 15, 2024

A Smooth Transition: Steps for Successfully Migrating Your EMR with Alleva

Transitioning from an old EMR system to a new one can be a crucial but challenging process for healthcare organizations. When faced with the sunset of your current EMR, careful management is essential to ensure minimal disruptions and maintain high-quality client care. Assessing your practice's needs, evaluating various options, considering costs, collaborating with your team, and planning the implementation are all vital steps in streamlining the EMR transition. By approaching this transition with meticulous planning and a strategic mindset, you can successfully migrate to a new EMR system and propel your practice forward. If you are a behavioral health consultant or administrator seeking guidance on a smooth transition, Alleva, a leading provider of cloud-based EMR solutions, stands ready to assist in driving better clinical, financial, and operational outcomes.

Recognizing EMR Sunset and Its Implications

Why EMR Systems Sunset

EMR systems are like any other technology – they have a lifecycle. Over time, developers stop supporting older systems and focus on newer, more advanced offerings. This phase is known as 'sunset.' Various factors contribute to an EMR's sunset: outdated architecture that can no longer support emerging healthcare protocols, lack of compliance with current regulatory standards, or simply the financial impracticality of maintaining legacy systems. Additionally, older EMRs may not integrate well with the latest medical devices or software, hindering efficiency and potentially compromising client care. Therefore, recognizing the signs that your EMR is nearing its sunset is crucial to avoid abrupt disruptions in your healthcare service delivery. With Alleva, you can stay ahead of the curve, ensuring that your EMR system remains robust, compliant, and capable of providing the excellent level of care your clients expect.

Understanding the Risks of EMR Sunset

When an EMR system reaches its sunset, the risks to a healthcare practice can be significant. Without updates and support, the system becomes vulnerable to security breaches, putting client data at risk. As technology advances, an outdated EMR may no longer comply with new legal and industry standards, which could lead to legal penalties and loss of certification. Moreover, the inefficiencies of an old system can lead to longer wait times for clients and increased administrative burdens for staff, negatively impacting the overall quality of care. Potential data loss during the transition to a new EMR is another concern if the process isn't managed correctly. Alleva understands these risks and provides a structured EMR transition plan to ensure data integrity, maintain compliance, and enhance security, all while facilitating a smoother workflow for healthcare providers.

Preparing for Your EMR Transition

Assessing Your Practice's Needs

A successful EMR transition begins with a thorough assessment of your practice's needs. Consider the specific workflows, data management requirements, and client engagement strategies that are central to your operations. Evaluate how well your current EMR supports these activities and where it falls short. Think about the scalability of your new system as your practice grows, and ensure it can accommodate new services or specialties. It's also important to identify the features that are essential for your clinicians and staff, such as ease of use, mobile access, and interoperability with other healthcare systems. Alleva emphasizes the importance of aligning your EMR capabilities with your practice's long-term goals, and can help articulate these needs into a clear set of requirements that will guide you in selecting the most suitable EMR system for a seamless transition.

Navigating Costs of EMR Transition

Analyzing Cost vs. Benefit

The decision to transition to a new EMR system is not solely based on the upfront costs. A comprehensive analysis must consider the long-term benefits and potential savings. The right EMR can improve operational efficiency, reduce paperwork, and minimize errors, which can lead to substantial cost savings over time. It's essential to evaluate the return on investment by looking at the system's impact on client care, staff productivity, and overall practice profitability. Consider how the EMR will integrate with existing systems and what new capabilities it will bring. With Alleva, you can leverage a cost-effective EMR solution designed for the unique needs of behavioral health practices, ensuring that the benefits far outweigh the costs. Alleva's team helps you understand the full financial picture, ensuring that your investment in an EMR transition pays off in improved clinical outcomes and streamlined operations.

Avoiding Hidden Costs

EMR transitions can come with hidden costs that are not always apparent at first glance. To avoid unexpected expenses, it's important to scrutinize the vendor's pricing structure carefully. Look beyond the initial purchase price or subscription fee to understand costs related to data migration, customization, additional training, and ongoing support. Some vendors may charge for updates or add-ons that are essential for your practice's functioning. It's also wise to factor in the potential costs associated with downtime during the transition period. By choosing Alleva, you can benefit from transparent pricing and a full understanding of the total cost of ownership. Alleva's commitment to providing a comprehensive and upfront cost assessment ensures that your practice can budget effectively for the EMR transition, reducing the risk of encountering unforeseen expenses down the line.

Ensuring Seamless Implementation of Your New EMR

Collaborating with Teams for Smooth Transition

Collaboration is key to a smooth EMR transition. Engage with clinical, administrative, and IT staff early in the process to understand their needs and concerns. Involving team members from different departments ensures that the new EMR will address the specific challenges and workflows of each group. Establish a transition team with representatives from these areas to foster a sense of ownership and encourage active participation in the change process. This team can also serve as a communication bridge, relaying information between staff and the EMR vendor and ensuring that training and support are tailored to meet everyone's needs. Alleva works closely with your practice's transition team to facilitate effective communication, provide necessary resources, and support collaboration, making the move to a new EMR as seamless as possible for all parties involved.

Training Your Staff on Using The New EMR

Proper training is a crucial component of any EMR transition. Well-trained staff are more likely to use the system effectively, which can lead to improved client care and operational efficiencies. Develop a comprehensive training plan that includes both initial training sessions and ongoing support. This plan should be customized to address the varying skill levels and roles of each staff member. Interactive sessions, such as hands-on workshops, can be particularly effective. Additionally, create a support structure for post-implementation that includes access to help desks, user manuals, and online resources. Alleva recognizes the importance of education in the adoption process and offers tailored training programs designed to maximize the capabilities of your new EMR system. By investing in the training of your staff, Alleva helps ensure that the transition to your new EMR is successful and that your team is confident and proficient in using the new system. That's why we created our Learning Management System, Alleva University, available free of charge around the clock.

Conclusion: Harnessing the Power of Alleva in Your EMR Transition

Alleva: Your Trusted Advisor in EMR Transition

Navigating an EMR transition can be complex, but with Alleva as your trusted advisor, you have a partner every step of the way. Alleva's expertise in the behavioral health sector means that you're working with a team that understands your unique challenges and needs. From the initial assessment of your practice's requirements to the final stages of implementation and training, Alleva offers guidance and support. The commitment to building a lasting relationship with your practice doesn't end with the transition; Alleva provides continuous improvement and support to ensure that your EMR system evolves with your practice. By choosing Alleva for your EMR transition, you're not just getting a software solution; you're gaining a long-term partner dedicated to enhancing the quality of care you provide and the efficiency of your operations.

A New Era of EMR with Alleva

The transition to a new EMR system with Alleva marks the beginning of a new era for your practice. Alleva's cloud-based EMR is designed to meet the evolving demands of behavioral health care, offering a system that's as dynamic as the field itself. With features tailored to enhance client engagement, streamline workflow, and ensure compliance, Alleva's EMR solutions are more than just a product—they're a pathway to transforming the way you deliver care. The commitment to innovation and user-friendly design places Alleva at the forefront of EMR technology. As your practice enters this new era, Alleva stands by your side, continuously offering the tools and support needed to navigate the ever-changing landscape of healthcare. With Alleva, you can look forward to a future where technology enables, empowers, and elevates the important work you do every day.

If you'd like to learn more about switching to Alleva, request a quick, hassle-free demo tailored to your organization.

March 3, 2024

Boost Efficiency and Reduce Errors: Alleva and CollaborateMD’s Seamless Billing Solution

Alleva, a leading provider of electronic medical records (EMR) software for behavioral health and addiction treatment programs, has announced an expanded integration with CollaborateMD, a cloud-based medical billing and practice management solution. This partnership offers a seamless billing experience for healthcare providers, helping them streamline their billing processes and access advanced billing technology. Alleva's new Encounter Transmission Table (ETT), allows users to view, filter, and report on their billable service data, while also sharing demographic, insurance, and diagnosis information with CollaborateMD for easy claim submissions. Eliminating redundancy reduces administrative errors and improving efficiency boosts overall productivity. The collaboration between Alleva and CollaborateMD promises to be a game-changer in the behavioral healthcare industry, providing innovative solutions to optimize billing and payment processes.

Introduction to Alleva and CollaborateMD's Partnership

Alleva: An Overview of Features

Alleva's electronic medical records (EMR) software is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of behavioral health and addiction treatment providers. It offers an intuitive interface that simplifies charting, reduces manual data entry, and ensures compliance with healthcare regulations. Key features include customizable treatment plans, detailed client profiles, and secure messaging, which facilitate coordinated care and improve client outcomes. Alleva also comes with robust reporting capabilities, allowing providers to generate insights on client progress and treatment efficacy. Moreover, integrating with tools like CollaborateMD, Alleva empowers providers by streamlining the billing process, from service capture to claim submission. This integration reflects Alleva's commitment to enhancing the administrative aspects of care, enabling providers to focus on delivering quality treatment.

CollaborateMD: Transforming Medical Billing

CollaborateMD stands out in the medical billing and practice management landscape for its cloud-based platform that combines ease of use with powerful functionality. It offers real-time claim tracking, centralized billing information, and personalized support to ensure that healthcare providers can manage their finances effectively and efficiently. The system's ability to minimize claim rejections and expedite reimbursements contributes to a healthier revenue cycle for practices. CollaborateMD's advanced reporting tools provide actionable financial insights, allowing providers to make informed decisions and optimize their billing operations. The integration with Alleva further enhances CollaborateMD's capabilities, creating a unified solution that addresses the end-to-end billing needs of the healthcare industry. With its focus on accuracy, efficiency, and user experience, CollaborateMD is revolutionizing medical billing for providers across the nation.

Unveiling Seamless Billing Experience

Innovative Encounter Transmission Table (ETT)

The Encounter Transmission Table (ETT) is a standout feature in Alleva's software, reflecting a significant step forward in billing efficiency. It serves as a centralized hub where providers can review and manage all billable encounters before transmitting to CollaborateMD for processing. The ETT's filter and report functions allow for quick identification of services that are ready for billing, which helps in reducing the lag time between service delivery and claim submission. It also ensures that all necessary information is complete and accurate, thereby minimizing the chances of claim denials due to errors or omissions. This innovative tool streamlines the billing workflow, enabling providers to get a better handle on their finances and allowing for more time to be allocated to client care rather than administrative tasks.

Cross-Platform Sharing for Efficient Claims Submission

Through Alleva and CollaborateMD's integration, cross-platform sharing has been refined to facilitate efficient claims submission. The synergy between the two platforms allows for the seamless transfer of demographic, insurance, and diagnosis data directly from Alleva’s system to CollaborateMD. This interoperability eliminates the need for duplicate data entry, significantly reducing the margin for human error and ensuring that claims are submitted correctly the first time. As a result, healthcare providers experience fewer claim rejections and denials, leading to a faster reimbursement cycle. Automated data sharing not only saves time but also enhances data integrity across platforms. Such efficiency is critical for behavioral health providers who contend with the complexities of billing for mental health services, as it enables them to maintain a focus on client care while trusting the billing process to operate smoothly.

Enhancing Revenue Cycle Management (RCM)

Streamlining Billing Processes: A Solution for Redundancies

The integration of Alleva with CollaborateMD attacks the problem of redundancy head-on, offering a solution that streamlines the entire billing process within the revenue cycle management (RCM) framework. By automating data transfer and minimizing manual intervention, the partnership ensures that the billing cycle is not only faster but also more accurate. The reduction of repetitive tasks allows administrative staff to redirect their efforts towards more strategic activities that can positively impact the financial health of the practice. For instance, staff can focus on following up on unpaid claims or improving client engagement strategies. This streamlined approach is particularly beneficial for behavioral health practices where billing can be complex due to the nature of services provided. The removal of redundancies through this integration leads to a leaner, more focused RCM process, bolstering the financial backbone of healthcare providers.

Improving Efficiency: Reducing Administrative Errors

Efficiency in healthcare billing is not just about speed; it's also about accuracy. Administrative errors can be costly, leading to claim rejections, payment delays, and additional work for staff. Alleva and CollaborateMD's partnership directly addresses these issues by providing tools that help reduce errors from the outset. The Encounter Transmission Table (ETT), for example, ensures that only complete and verified billable encounters are submitted to CollaborateMD. This verification process catches common mistakes before they become problems. Additionally, the use of consistent, automated data entry reduces variability that can lead to errors. With these systems in place, healthcare providers see a decrease in denied claims and an increase in on-time payments, which are crucial for maintaining a healthy cash flow. Ultimately, the focus on reducing administrative errors through improved efficiency translates to a more robust and reliable revenue cycle for healthcare providers.

Expert Insight on the Partnership

Steve McCall's Perspective on the Collaboration

Steve McCall, CEO of Alleva, sees the combination of Alleva's EMR strengths with CollaborateMD's robust billing system as an advancement that will streamline operations significantly. McCall points out that having a unified system not only saves time but also ensures a higher level of precision in medical billing—a critical factor for the financial stability of healthcare facilities. He believes that by focusing on seamless integration, the partnership is well-positioned to set a new standard for revenue cycle management in the healthcare sector, particularly in the niche of behavioral health.

The Future of Healthcare Billing Solutions

The future of healthcare billing lies in the adoption of integrated, intelligent solutions like the one offered by the Alleva and CollaborateMD partnership. These solutions are poised to become the backbone of a more efficient and error-free billing system within the healthcare industry. As technologies continue to evolve, we can anticipate further advancements that will enhance the accuracy and speed of billing processes. The next generation of healthcare billing solutions will likely incorporate more analytics, machine learning, and automation to predict and prevent errors before they happen. The result will be a more streamlined revenue cycle that benefits both providers and clients. By staying at the forefront of these technological shifts, Alleva and CollaborateMD are setting the standard for what providers should expect from their billing systems in the years to come.

The Power of Ongoing Innovation

Ongoing innovation is the driving force behind the continuous improvement in healthcare billing solutions. The collaboration between Alleva and CollaborateMD is a testament to the power of innovation in tackling real-world challenges faced by healthcare providers. By embracing new technologies and constantly seeking to refine their offerings, these companies are not just reacting to the current market needs but also anticipating future trends. This proactive approach ensures that healthcare professionals can count on a billing solution that evolves with the changing landscape of the industry. The commitment to innovation means that providers who use Alleva and CollaborateMD will benefit from a platform that is always at the cutting edge, helping them to stay competitive and focused on delivering the highest quality of client care.

February 2, 2024

From Overwhelmed to Organized: Optimize Task Management with Alleva EMR for Behavioral Health

Trust Alleva to optimize your task management system and allow you to dedicate more time to serving those in your care.

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April 21, 2023

Get #AllevaCertified

Master it all with our Super User Certification.

Posting your Alleva University certification on LinkedIn is a great way to promote yourself and your program. Your certification will be visible on your profile under the section "Licenses and Certifications."

Here's a quick guide to posting your certification:

Demonstrate continued learning and commitment to excellent care through your knowledge of the most advanced technology in the behavioral health space. Get answers to all your questions about:

Use the hashtag #AllevaCertified and share the news with your network!

July 27, 2022

The Comeback Story: How Alleva helps Clearfork Academy meet its strategic business goals.

Austin Davis, founder and CEO of Clearfork Academy, shares his journey with Alleva, from when the company was first formed to their partnership today. Alleva's EMR has become the backbone of its infrastructure, helping the company grow and meet its goals.

Clearfork Academy is a Christ-centered residential treatment program for youth between the ages of 13 and 18 years old who struggle with substance abuse or addiction and the accompanying mental health and behavioral issues. They began using Alleva EMR when they first opened their two facilities in Texas but, after a while, parted ways. Then they "came back home" to Alleva. Listen to Austin Davis talk about the growth he's seen in Alleva over the years and how using the platform has helped their company succeed.

Alleva's Electronic Medical Records software solution offers the latest technology to therapists, improves the quality of their work, and relieves stress. Our intuitive, user-friendly platform eases the workflow for those providing care, so they have more time to do what they do best--serving their clients and saving lives.

Alleva's Insights feature helped Clearfork Academy to make better business decisions as their company grew. With advanced, real-time data, our clients are able to track their health center’s progress and efficiency. Customized charts make reporting a breeze. We help behavioral health clinics to meet their strategic business goals.

Let us walk you through it with a quick, hassle-free demo.

No more headaches. No more hassles.

Alleva Insights is easy and automated.

Say hello to solutions. helloalleva.com

May 31, 2022

Alleva’s Telehealth Solution Which Enables HIPAA Compliance Surpasses 30 Million Minutes of Essential Care, Improving Mental Health Outcomes

Behavioral Health facilities using Alleva's telehealth feature are able to reach thousands of isolated clients in despair using their built-in Zoom Video technology.

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. (PRWEB) May 20, 2022-- In the wake of COVID-19, the U.S. not only faces a devastating death toll of over 980,000 lives lost from the virus but a staggering number of over 100,000 additional “deaths of despair” from alcohol abuse, drug overdoses, and suicide. This is a 28.5% increase in overdose cases from before the pandemic. With the burden on behavioral health facilities continuing to build, Alleva teamed up with Zoom Video Communications, Inc. in 2017 to offer a comprehensive telehealth solution that enables behavioral healthcare companies to meet HIPAA compliance requirements while delivering exceptional care.

Even before the pandemic, Alleva recognized the utility of Zoom’s unified communications platform and its application for healthcare facilities. Since its implementation, clinicians have been able to stay in contact with their clients who are unable to attend in-person sessions and those who prefer remote treatment. Before Covid, Alleva's customers averaged around 60 thousand telehealth minutes a month, but in April of 2020, and the onset of pandemic restrictions, that number jumped to almost 2 million minutes a month. Even as Covid risks have diminished, telehealth has not tapered off.

“The demand for telehealth shows no signs of slowing,” said Paul Magnaghi, Global ISV Program Leader, Zoom. “It’s crucial to provide a simple, frictionless, and secure experience for everyone involved–from provider to patient. Our platform incorporates security controls to help enable customers to satisfy the HIPAA Security Rule. We are pleased to have Alleva join Zoom’s ISV Partner Program and provide a simple and quick way for people to get connected to the care they need.” With the integration of Zoom’s convenient technology and the Alleva EMR, treatment centers can sync calendar appointments, and send invitations and reminders via texts directly to the Alleva app on their client’s cellphone, all while enabling HIPPA compliance.

Steven McCall, CEO of Alleva, said, "The fact that we were among the first EMR platforms to add the telehealth feature back in 2017 meant that we were agile and responsive when clinicians' circumstances and needs changed. Alleva is all about offering the latest technology and making life easier for caregivers.”

Alleva’s telehealth feature has allowed substance abuse and behavioral specialists to connect to their clients during increasingly challenging times. With options for individual, group, family, and admissions sessions, the telehealth feature allows people to connect effortlessly through digital means, with room for continued innovation. Moving forward, Alleva is looking to expand their solutions to further streamline communication and connect substance abuse specialists to those who need it.

For more information about Alleva, its built-in telehealth solutions, and how its solutions are shaping the behavioral healthcare industry, visit HelloAlleva.com.

About Alleva

Alleva provides world-class software to the behavioral health industry. Made up of a team of licensed therapists, industry professionals, and experienced software developers, they seek to use their industry background and passion to help the helpers give better care by providing them with supportive technology.

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January 4, 2022

Industry Outlook for 2022

The behavioral health market continues to face challenges, such as rising health care costs, pandemic socio-economic implications, and labor force attrition. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Virtual care provides access to millions of people in need, and facilities with the right technological support are able to offer more equity, better quality, and increased value to their recovery programs.


Behavioral Health Market Growth

The critical importance of behavioral health is often downplayed because treatment is not as straightforward as other physical health conditions for which we have medicinal treatments. Treating depression or substance abuse requires psychological intervention, whereas diabetes does not. This is why the industry has historically faced greater challenges in funding, research, and authorization. 

Over the past couple of years, however, we’ve seen a drastic increase in awareness as the need for intervention has grown. The ongoing plight of the pandemic and emerging variants of COVID-19 continue to cause massive challenges for treatment centers. Increased stress levels, the trauma of illness and isolation, economic uncertainty, and greater instability in people’s lives have all contributed to the overdose crisis we face. The essential care provided by treatment centers for those seeking addiction recovery is more critical than ever.

The rise in public acceptance of mental health treatment is making behavioral health care more accessible, thus increasing the market size. Experts estimate the behavioral health market will be worth approximately $240 billion by 2026. This fact attracts many operators to the space, but only those who adapt amid all the current challenges will make a real difference, providing quality care and support to those they serve.

Trends in Behavioral Health

While technology enables care providers to reach more people virtually, those integrating in-person care with remote support are having the most successful outcomes. In a post-pandemic future, the need to support workforce health, wellbeing, and safety will be a priority. Online resources, remote access, cloud-based documentation, and digital therapy, can bridge access gaps.

One of the best digital tools to help behavioral health management is an industry-specific electronic medical record (EMR) system. EMRs help to improve communication between patients and healthcare providers, increasing the efficacy and productivity of treatment centers. Alleva’s EMR is user-friendly and state of the art. With telehealth options through video conferencing, communication and scheduling are effortless. The Alleva EMR offers key features for compliance and documentation. Providers using efficient tools–such as medication management and reporting for business intelligence, producing data in easy-to-read formats–will discover they have more time available to spend with the people in their care.

The Alleva App also increases productivity by helping centers engage with clients, update assignments, send reminders and telehealth invites, even daily questionnaires, directly to clients’ phones. At a time when people are social distancing, this feature creates connection and improves communication. 

Maximize Productivity in 2022 

The behavioral health industry is growing thanks to an increased acceptance of mental health treatment. Digital EMR solutions like Alleva are perfectly poised to improve the industry for both patients and clinicians. Alleva is here to help behavioral health facilities reach all of their performance goals in 2022.

If you’d like to learn more, schedule a demo for Alleva and see how we help the helpers. 

March 3, 2021

How EMRs Improve Client Care

Electronic medical records, or EMRs, can help you transform your practice from a stagnant business into a fast-paced and efficient facility without sacrificing care. Through the elimination of paperwork, you’ll say goodbye to mistakes and busy work and say hello to optimization and high-quality care.

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August 4, 2020

Lost Connections in a Digital World

Even before the spread of COVID-19 forced millions of people around the world to isolate, the decline of human contact in our digital world was taking a toll. In the great debate about the merits and difficulties of a world dependent on technology, the jury is still out. 

In some ways, we may fault technology for our culture’s rampant obsession with status, or the resulting depression and even addiction in the younger generations. In other ways, we praise it for making our lives easier, for making information available to the masses, and for its ability to connect us with others across the globe.  

While we may agree with the risks of allowing technology such a vital place in our lives, we have all, in some way or another, cosigned the idea that through technology, we can improve how we communicate and connect with each other. Some technology, like video conferencing, brings people together and breaks through the barriers of isolation.

The Need for Human Connection

Since the dawn of humanity, we have needed connection with others of our kind, just as much as we needed food, water, or shelter. This is because, in many ways, banding together was our ticket to successfully meeting all other needs. As evidenced by early cave drawings all the way to today’s obsession with social media, we’ve long felt convinced of our need to communicate important messages, share about dangers on the horizon and even to celebrate successes with one another. Although the medium has changed over time, the fundamental service that these platforms appear to provide remains the same.

In the years since those early attempts at human connection, our society was on a path towards individualism, and as a whole becoming lonelier and more and more isolated from one another. Tricked time and time again by a consumerist mindset that told us that we are always “only 3 easy payments of $19.99” away from happiness, we’ve continually failed to learn our lesson. With the advent of the internet, we fared no better. 

In his poignant discussion of the root causes of depression, Johann Hari points out that we are drawn to these manufactured forms of connection because at first, we believe that they are the real thing.  However, no matter the number of emoji’s, gifs, or iMessages sent with special effects, communication online fails to measure up to the real thing, and only leaves us clamoring for our next ‘fix’. 

“Only through our connectedness to others can we really know and enhance the self. And only through working on the self can we begin to enhance our connectedness to others.” ― Harriet Lerner

What Does This Mean for Clinicians?

Recent research reveals that the average person checks their phone 96 times per day or roughly every 10 minutes, and spend nearly half their day listening to, watching, reading, or otherwise consuming media. The Behavioral Health Industry is not immune to these societal changes.  Although the therapy room may be one of the last frontiers where two individuals connect with one another for an extended length of time, uninterrupted, the battle for such a structure and even mandates for concurrent documentation appears to threaten this practice. 

In some ways, clinicians are expected to provide a remedy for this lack of human connection, as well as a model for the path forward. It is crucial to this task to consider both the role of technology in both fostering and hindering human connection, and to discover the balance between consuming the content available to us and engaging with the people in front of us. 

True, because of technology, we are aided in our ability to get tasks done more quickly and connect with others across the globe, but we must not neglect our connection to the natural world. For many reasons, this is why wilderness therapy has been so successful, in that it helps you retain your connection with the world around you. 

Partnering with Alleva

At this time in history, we are navigating two worlds: the physical and the virtual. It is altogether vital to remember which one fosters true, fulfilling, human connection, and that which is only masquerading as such.  Technology is important, but only when we remember its true purpose, to aid the lives of those behind the screen. 

At Alleva, we are all about harnessing technology that helps you get back to what you do best- providing authentic, in-the-moment care. From our intuitive design and easy-to-use templates, with HIPAA-compliant communication logs, and tasks and notifications all in one place, spend less time stressing out over the tediousness of record management and invest your time instead back to the clients who have sought you out for treatment. 

Quickly access and edit client notes, create individualized treatment plans based on Wiley Treatment Planners best practices, and assign the corresponding homework. With Alleva, you are able to deliver the same high-quality, individualized treatment that your clients have come to expect. Have your technology work for you, not the other way around. Less headache, more connection. 

July 7, 2020

What We Wish We Knew About Telehealth Before COVID-19

Over the last several months, clinicians and treatment centers, along with the rest of the world, have been working on ways to offer their services online. Some made the jump prior to the global pandemic, while others waited for the future to arrive right at our doorstep. 

In the months since that leap to online, offering services via telehealth has been both a helpful and frustrating alternative for counselors and their clients worldwide. In many ways, this time has been both trial and error, learning the ins and outs of what not to do when meeting online. 

During and After COVID-19...

1. Your caseload won’t be the same.

For some, you may have seen a spike in clients these past few months, those struggling with anxiety and uncertainty of the future who’ve sought you out for help. For others, the seismic shift from face to face to telehealth sessions may have come with a drastic reduction in caseload. Of course, we understand that this is related to the severe changes that we as a society have had to face, as well as the fact that our very lifestyle is no longer the same. 

When getting clients to make the switch, a helpful way of thinking about it is to ‘put your sales and marketing hat on’. Think about the benefits of telehealth and do your best to present your case for why you can make it easier for clients to engage in services via telehealth.

2. You will be called on to set an example.

Counselors around the globe have been expected to set the bar for human services professions by practicing social distancing and follow stay at home orders. While being an example is part of our profession, it does not mean it is easy.

One of the many roles as counselors is to welcome clients in to teach them how to handle change. When they do not choose to continue services via telehealth it is not a personal reflection on yourself as a professional. It is a reflection on the client’s needs and perspective on the changes we are all enduring.

As you continue your work via telehealth, keep your perspective in mind. Instead of blaming clients, allow your mind to consider the challenges they may be facing and be understanding.

3. You will need to re-set expectations.

When beginning or switching to telehealth, maintaining a caseload can be difficult. Clients may take advantage of the degree of separation and may feel more comfortable practicing less healthy communication skills with others when they are online. That includes with you. Many of our clients may stop communicating altogether. We have handled that reality face to face; we can address these responses via technology as well.

When clients do not follow up with telehealth services, start with an attitude of grace and end with an attitude of professionalism. We use informed consent as the bedrock to establish expectations at the beginning of any therapeutic relationship. The switch to online demands the same. 

4. You will need to become well-versed with technology & be able to teach others, too.

Though we are hard-pressed to live without it, technology does not come easy to everyone—counselors included. Telehealth requires a basic understanding of the internet, WIFI, and audio/video connectivity. As counselors, we most likely do not have much experience connecting these three together to provide services. Regardless of our tech expertise, we have all likely experienced the difficulty of teaching clients how to use telehealth.

In sessions with children, the challenges are magnified at least two-fold. Counselors must teach both clients and their parents or caregivers how to connect to sessions online. Patience may wear thin when explaining to clients how to connect to sessions.

To ease the pain of learning and teaching clients how to use telehealth, keep the following in mind: 

  • As much as you are able, choose a user-friendly platform for your telehealth services. Fewer clicks to get to sessions increases the chances your clients will be able to connect. In turn, your client retention rate will likely increase as well. 
  • Practice connecting to a session with your client before their first telehealth session. Troubleshooting at the start will save on unpaid time and frustration on the backend.
  • When in doubt about how to troubleshoot, do a quick search for how to connect to your telehealth platform and there is most certainly a helpful post you can send to your clients. 

5. Your documentation process will need to adjust.

With the advent of telehealth, many professionals are scrambling to adjust documentation needs to telehealth services. Paper documentation in the age of telehealth creates stress in addition to the frustrations of changing to telehealth. 

EMR platforms like Alleva make documentation easy. Consider implementing EMR services through Alleva that streamlines the online documentation process from intake to discharge. With this platform, client records and resources can be documented in one user-friendly place. With a healthy perspective and the most up-to-date resources for learning technology, telehealth can be used to the benefit of clients and counselors alike. Alleva offers a mobile app for your clients to easily access a session remotely. Alleva also offers group telehealth with the ability to accommodate up to 150 participants.

Let's keep our chins up, and lead by example in a world of teletherapy. Call us today to schedule a free demo.

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Copyright 2019 - Alleva Corp. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2019 - Alleva Corp. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2019 - Alleva Corp. All Rights Reserved.