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Netsmart Forges Path to Coordinated, Integrated Care with Its California Behavioral Health Clients
[April 24, 2014]

Netsmart Forges Path to Coordinated, Integrated Care with Its California Behavioral Health Clients


OVERLAND PARK, Kan. --(Business Wire)--

Netsmart continues to provide knowledge leadership and collaboration-oriented technology solutions to county-based and private behavioral health and addiction services providers in California. Netsmart's innovative clinical and business solutions enable major California providers to furnish recovery-based, coordinated care to millions of people each day.

"With our long-time experience in California and focus on innovation, we are pleased to help providers in California be successful in the face of an increased demand for services, complex and unique requirements, and a challenging funding and reimbursement environment," said Michael Valentine, chief executive officer, Netsmart. "We also have the strategic vision and solutions to connect the dots toward a system of coordinated care that truly treats the 'whole person'."

Examples of this comprehensive approach include:

Los Angeles County DMH Establishes New Era in County-Contract Provider Coordination

In January, the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) launched the Integrated Behavioral Health Information System (IBHIS). More than just an electronic health record (EHR), IBHIS is LACDMH's comprehensive behavioral health clinical, administrative and financial information system through which LACDMH coordinates behavioral health services for a county with a population of nearly 10 million.

In the next several months, more than 3,000 clinicians in the county's directly-operated programs will use a Netsmart CareRecord™ as the county's EHR. In addition, the IBHIS project includes new integration methodologies that facilitate electronic exchange of administrative and billing information to support the county's more than 600 contract providers. This interoperability solution will allow the contract providers to fully adopt health information technology and improve efficiencies by eliminating the need to key client information into multiple electronic health systems. With the full implementation of IBHIS, both county staff and contract providers will use IBHIS information in real time, providing coordinated care through instant access to comprehensive authorized health record information.

Netsmart Introduces the LACDMH Essentials Solution for Contract Providers

To support LACDMH's focus on interoperability, Netsmart introduces the "LACDMH Essentials" EHR packaged solution for contract behavioral health providers in the County of Los Angeles. The solution uses the county's well-defined requirements as the baseline for this system's features and functions. Built on the Netsmart CareRecord platform, it delivers a pre-configured system that uses the electronic data exchange mechanisms established by IBHIS and includes the clinical forms required by the county for providers. By pre-configuring the system, implementation time is minimized, providing a lower cost of ownership for contract providers.

The LACDMH Essentials solution also gives contract providers the convenience and continuity of utilizing the technology provider that manages both the county's system and a tightly-integrated provider EHR.

San Mateo County Leverages Data with Analytics

San Mateo County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services is using the Enlighten Analytics® solutionprovided by Netsmart to leverage clinical and financial data for strategic planning and day-to-day decision making. With Enlighten Analytics, San Mateo County is maximizing reimbursements, shortening revenue cycles, analyzing how many and what types of services they are providing, and making informed decisions about how to staff their clinics and what services to offer.



Tarzana Treatment Centers Ramps Up for Comprehensive Care

Tarzana Treatment Centers is using Netsmart solutions to provide client-centered, whole-person, coordinated care.


Tarzana integrates primary and behavioral health data with the Netsmart Primary Care Module. The Module includes both primary care and behavioral health information in the same client CareRecord for a full picture of client health. Medical assistants, providers and billing staff use iPad® mobile digital devices for easy access to forms and data. Cases can be completed and signed off on quickly, and charges are posted immediately. The intuitive design of the Primary Care Module on the iPad shortens the staff learning curve and prevents the loss of productivity that often negatively impacts implementation of EHRs in primary care.

Tarzana also recently began using myHealthPointe.portal™ from Netsmart. The portal enables Tarzana clients to request appointments, reorder medications, and view their medical records and lab results online. These self-service options are designed to increase the level of satisfaction of Tarzana clients, enhance the productivity of Tarzana staff and help Tarzana meet Meaningful Use Stage 2 requirements.

Tarzana is also implementing Netsmart's enhanced Treatment Plan to integrate primary care with substance use disorder and mental health treatment. This includes equipping clinicians to identify and treat co-occurring disorders such as diabetes, and addictions such as smoking.

"Having all of a patient's primary care and behavioral health problems addressable in a comprehensive treatment plan allows Tarzana staff from all disciplines to collaborate in caring for all of a patient's health problems," said Jim Sorg, Ph.D., director of information technology at Tarzana. "This supports Tarzana's goal to treat the 'whole person' and achieve the 'triple aim' of improving quality, improving the experience of care and lowering the total cost of care."

Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration

The California Netsmart User Community and Groups engage in ongoing dialogue to ensure real-time collaboration around the design of solutions necessary for today and tomorrow. This fosters dialogue on California-specific needs and broader healthcare trends and serves as the foundation for strategic planning to optimize outcomes, experience and efficiencies.

Netsmart also shared insight and knowledge this week in two presentations at the California Institute of Mental Health (CiMH) 14th Annual Behavioral Health Information Management Conference and Exposition in San Diego. Dennis Morrison, Ph.D., Netsmart chief clinical officer, co-presented on the topic, "Using Performance and Outcome Measures for Enhancing the Quality of Behavioral Health Care Services." Carol Reynolds, Netsmart senior vice president, Client Experience, co-presented on the topic, "Meaningful Use: Standards Not Just Incentives."

About Netsmart

Netsmart is committed to helping health and human services providers deliver effective, outcomes-based care with Netsmart's CareFabric™ solution, a tightly woven framework of innovative clinical and business solutions and services that supports integrated, coordinated delivery of health services across the spectrum of care.

More than 23,000 client organizations, including 450,000 care providers and more than 40 state systems use Netsmart solutions to help improve the quality of life for more than 25 million people each day. Netsmart clients include mental health and addiction services agencies, health homes, psychiatric hospitals, private and group mental health practices, public health departments, social services and child and family health agencies, managed care organizations, and vital records offices.

Netsmart is pleased to support the EveryDay Matters Foundation, which was established for behavioral and public health organizations to learn from each other and share their causes and stories. Organizations can also request grants for their cause or to help fund technology that advances the way care is delivered. For more information, visit www.everydaymatters.com/foundation.

Learn more about how Netsmart and the CareFabric solution are changing the face of healthcare today. Visit www.ntst.com, call 1-800-472-5509, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or visit us on YouTube.

CareRecord, myHealthPointe.portal and CareFabric are trademarks of Netsmart Technologies, Inc.

Enlighten Analytics is a registered trademark of Centerstone Research Institute

iPad is a registered trademark of Apple (News - Alert), Inc.


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