Providing care in the mental health sector in recent times has not been easy. Software companies like Kareo have been working on creating telemedicine features to combat lockdown regulations. Here are five tips for mental health practices based on features from the Kareo demo!
Mental Healthcare In the Global Pandemic
In the last two years, the world of healthcare has completely changed. Mental healthcare is no exception to this rule. The traditional mental health clinic was always seen as a client and therapist sitting across from each other. However, this visual has had to be reimagined in the new normal after the COVID-19 pandemic began.
We now see mental health transforming as more and more practices are using telemedicine. This technology allows the therapist to contact the client from their respective homes. The connection is established using a device and an Internet connection. However, things haven’t been simple, and EMR software has had to evolve to cope.
Telehealth Features From the Kareo Demo
As more and more therapists and practices shift to telemedicine, challenges have emerged. Here are five tips to help your mental health practice make the shift. These tips are based on broad guidelines and features you can see during the Kareo Demo.
Use HIPAA Compliant Video Conferencing
The use of HIPAA-compliant software has been more important than ever before. Now, almost all client information is being stored online. This means that the data is vulnerable to leaks, breaches, and nefarious attacks. It is crucial to use software that has been complying with HIPAA regulations around client safety.
Because of the emergent nature of the pandemic, Medicare temporarily allowed practitioners to use public applications. This included applications like FaceTime, hangouts, and Zoom. While the software is readily available and accessible, they are not compliant with HIPAA regulations. This is a temporary solution but not one that can hold in the new normal.
Kareo is one such HIPAA-compliant vendor whose client safety measures have led to many positive Kareo reviews. Using software like Kareo will also make sure that you are already prepared when and if Medicare guidelines change.
Be Conscious Of Payer Policies
Not all clients are covered by the same payers and insurance companies. There have been changes to reimbursement schedules and policies in response to the pandemic. This can impact the pay collection at your clinic or practice.
It is, therefore, crucial to be conscious of changing policies of all commercial payers you can potentially interact with. You can contact them and ask them about their policy regarding telemedicine. This will include information about coding requirements.
When you use Kareo, you know that the software already complies with the reimbursement policies at the state level. The software also uses automated tools to improve the chances that your claims will be accepted.
Prepare Your Patients For Televisits
Your patients are used to receiving healthcare in a particular way. The movement towards telemedicine software can be a difficult change for them. It is therefore important to be cognizant of the needs of your patient at this time.
Simple things like explaining what is happening can go a long way. For example, someone in your practice can reach out to patients and explain in detail. Providing information about the kinds of visits available, how to schedule visits, and what to expect can help alleviate anxieties. This can also be translated when reminding patients of upcoming appointments.
If you have an upcoming appointment, reaching out to the patient a couple of days before can be a great help. This can give your staff a chance to explain what they need to do to join the call. It also gives them the chance to prepare anything they need for the appointment.
Use Innovative Emergency Solutions
If there’s one reason you may have already been wondering how to inquire about the Kareo cost, it may be the expansion of coverage. In recent times, due to the pandemic, Medicare has increased coverage of telemedicine services in mental healthcare.
This includes services like testing and group therapy. Some payers have also decided to cover these services. These may be temporarily available, so it’s best to make use of them while you can. The benefit of having this is it can help clients who had difficulty leaving the home even before the pandemic.
Clients who suffer from agoraphobia, or those who are not able to travel can now access help from their homes. Some payers also include provisions for clients who were unable to find childcare and so could not visit. These interventions may continue post-pandemic, but it is best to make use of them while they are available.
Work To Cut Down On Time
One thing that eats up a lot of professionals’ time is the burden of administrative tasks. Not only does this leave you exhausted, but it also gives you less time with your clients. It is therefore important to use an EMR that can be integrated with other features.
When you use Kareo, you get access to a completely integrated suite of software,. As you will see during your Kareo demo, you get to manage all of your tasks in one place. You don’t need to use other solutions for telehealth that can cause conflicts in the future.
This also gives you access to tools that can save you time. The EMR can help you work more efficiently through a workflow, which gives you more time with your clients. These features can allow you to manage the everyday tasks of your clinic. A the same time, the EMR can cover your record-keeping and clinical data.
Should I Opt For The Kareo Demo?
Your next question might be – is it time to jump ahead and request a Kareo demo? You can get started on that of course, but we can’t make a recommendation to you without more knowledge. You can ultimately decide what works best for your context after looking through Kareo’s features.
