Did you know there’s an association for EHR developers in the United States? When looking for an EHR provider, there are good reasons to first consider a member of the Electronic Health Record Association (EHRA). What is EHRA? The EHRA was created in 2004 to help EHR developers collaborate and resolve common concerns among their…
As behavioral health and addiction treatment gets more attention across the nation, Idaho is taking steps to tackle mental health issues. Here’s the latest behavioral-health news across the state. Idaho Receives “F” Grade for Behavioral Health and Addiction Treatment Coverage Idaho has received an “F” on compliance with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity…
In October 2018, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and the accreditation nonprofit CARF International (CARF) announced a partnership to launch a pilot program for certification of addiction treatment programs. The pilot program will assess treatment programs on their ability to adhere to a specific level of care, based on ASAM criteria. To start,…
Provider burnout is increasing across the United States, rising about 20 percent between 2011 and 2014, researchers from Mayo Clinic Proceedings found. This creates health hazards for clinicians and their patients. What is “Burnout”? Generally, burnout is defined as feelings of physical and emotional exhaustion, increased cynicism, lower motivation, and even feelings of pointlessness or…
There are significant risks associated with the long-term use of opioids, yet many patients depend on them for long-term pain management. A growing body of research shows that the right treatment approach can make patients safer, even when using opioids in the long term. Risks of Long-Term Opioid Use Chronic pain affects millions of Americans,…
Kanban is a visual system that helps manage workflow. The word “kanban” is Japanese for “visual signal” or “card.” This system can help teams communicate the work to be done and when to do it, and can help identify and fix bottlenecks to help the work proceed most efficiently. Taiichi Ohno, an industrial engineer for…
Addiction can affect whole families. Here are some tips for getting families on board for treatment. Encourage family involvement in recovery. Because addiction can impact entire families, recovery should involve whole families, as well. Addiction treatment professionals should encourage family members to support the patient seeking recovery. Providers should encourage families to maintain healthy boundaries,…
Idaho has its own specific challenges in behavioral health and addiction treatment. Here is the latest news from around the state. Blue Cross of Idaho Implements New Guidelines for Opioid Prescriptions Blue Cross of Idaho, which insures about 542,000 state residents, is taking steps to curb the rise of opioid addiction. This is partly a…
Many behavioral and mental health providers and addiction treatment professionals understand the value of electronic health records (EHRs). But does your practice also need customer relationship management (CRM) software? Here is some information to consider: What is a CRM? CRM software generally helps an organization collect and organize customer contact information and manage relationships with…
Ohio has not been immune to the impact of addiction and the opiate crisis sweeping the nation. Here’s the latest news on efforts across the state to curb addiction and overdose. Cincinnati Jail Adds Beds for Inmates’ Addiction Treatment Ohio’s Hamilton County Justice Center is renovating space to add 92 new beds to help treat…