Tracking the effectiveness of treatments and patient outcomes can improve the health and quality of life for your patients. When you learn how to track patient outcomes, your staff will gain the ability to see how their patients’ treatment plans are working and make the necessary adjustments as needed. Contact Sunwave Health today online or by calling us at 561.576.6037 to learn about how our EMR software for behavioral health treatment centers can integrate everything from detox to insurance payments and help you with tracking behavioral health outcomes.
How to Track Patient Outcomes
To truly understand a patient’s progress during their treatment, your organization needs to monitor all changes, big and small, over time and then alter treatments and offer additional kinds of support. Tracking behavioral health outcomes and making improvements in patient care can’t happen without effective measurement of the outcomes. As you know, the healthcare industry has many administrative and regulatory complexities. You must measure and report on hundreds of outcomes annually. The most vital outcome measures are:
- Mortality
- Readmissions
- Safety of care
- Effectiveness of care
- Patient experience
- Timeliness of care
- Efficient use of medical imaging
Tracking behavioral health outcomes means that your organization is using a standardized system of measurement to assess patient progress, identify issues within the treatment plan, monitor treatment compliance, and use all of the available patient data to adapt clinical interventions swiftly in real time. These outcome measures represent the quality of value-based care and business cost targets that healthcare organizations like yours are always trying to improve. By making use of Sunwave Health’s behavioral health software that provides customer relationship management, electronic medical records, revenue cycle management, and alumni management, your team will be able to effectively track each patient’s entire journey.
Best Practices for Tracking Patient Outcomes
Healthcare providers should spend time identifying the personal goals of each patient to best develop a treatment plan and monitor how their ability to achieve their goals progresses over a period of time. It is critical that your organization understands when patients are not progressing toward their desired outcome and, equally important, that you have the data needed to quickly change the course of the treatment plan accordingly.
There are three outcomes measurement essentials that your business will need to focus on when tracking behavioral health outcomes:
- Transparency
- Integrated care
- Easy exchange of information
When working in concert with each other, these measurement essentials will improve patient outcomes by creating a culture in which data drives decisions and where data transparency is paramount. When you learn how to track patient outcomes effectively, your organization’s environment of providing the finest integrated care that treats the whole patient and improves critical care transitions will be improved by having a system that enables the seamless exchange of outcomes measurement data between clinicians, departments, and different hospitals.
The Importance of Data Tracking in Addiction Treatment
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the definition of recovery from substance use and mental disorders is “a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.” The steps taken along the path to recovery will differ from one person to the next. Therefore, tracking behavioral health outcomes is best accomplished by taking a holistic approach, integrating care, and making the data available to all involved in the ongoing treatment of the patient. The range of patient outcomes that are important to monitor and address may include those related to:
- Continued substance use
- Retention in treatment
- Mental health and well-being
- Functioning or quality of life
- Progress with patient goals
Learn More at Sunwave Health
Contact Sunwave Health today by calling us 561.576.6037 or reaching out online to learn how our EMR software for behavioral health treatment centers can help set your organization apart, by providing you with the measurement tools to better care for your patients.
