It is believed that about 25% of the population will likely experience mental illness at some point in their lives. And today, there are millions of people in the United States who are battling mental health or behavioral health disorders. With that, it’s now commonly accepted that integrating behavioral health platforms as treatment with primary care can be an effective method to improve results. 

What Is Behavioral Health?

One must first comprehend the behavioral health field to grasp the concept of a behavioral health platform. Essentially, mental health, drug addiction disorders, everyday stresses, physical manifestations of stress, and general health habits are all included in the scope of behavioral health. Care for these mental and emotional components is integral to patient-centered healthcare, and behavioral health platforms can make this possible. 

When medical and behavioral health professionals collaborate to treat patients, they can better coordinate care, communicate, and achieve their shared health goals. 

What Is A Behavioral Health Platform? 

A mental and behavioral health platform is a subset of electronic medical records software developed with the specific requirements of the behavioral health fields in mind. And as a result of government reforms for medical practice regulations, increased access to the internet and various technology and innovations, and widespread use of electronic medical record (EMR) software, patients have come to expect the convenience and connectivity offered by specialty practice management software.  

The Benefits Of Integrating Behavioral Health Platforms In A Healthcare Organization

In a nutshell, healthcare organizations may want to incorporate behavioral health platforms for several reasons, such as improvements in patient health outcomes and patient satisfaction, medical staff engagement levels, financial incentives for high-quality care, and lower overall healthcare costs are all achievable goals. 

Furthermore, in this article, we’ll explore why healthcare organizations should use a behavioral health platform. Read on to learn more.

• A Behavioral Mental Health Platform Provides Patient Convenience  

Generally, the behavioral health platform aims to encourage seamless collaboration between medical professionals administering primary care and those working in the field of behavioral health, with the two sometimes sharing the same office. 

Patients can benefit greatly from this arrangement because their doctor could be in a better position to meet all their medical needs in one setting. Or in some cases, during a single visit, their concerns can be conveniently addressed. Patients can receive care for various concerns, from anxiety and depression to substance abuse and chronic pain, in one convenient place. It also allows them to obtain the necessary mental health care in a setting where they can feel more at ease socially. 

• A Behavioral Mental Health Platform Ensures Superior Health Results 

The state of one’s body and mind are inextricably intertwined. The incidence of preexisting conditions and the likelihood of acquiring a new one also increases with a mental health disorder. In fact, many chronic diseases stem from underlying lifestyle and behavioral factors, making mental health problems a further complication. 

Patients can find it simpler to manage, improve, and treat chronic diseases when behavioral health platforms are used to address behavioral health concerns. With an efficient system, optimum care can be administered to the patient.

• A Behavioral Mental Health Platform Facilitates Shift Towards A Patient-Centered Care Model

By adopting behavioral health platforms, medical facilities can provide a more rounded treatment method that considers each individual’s unique needs, leading to improved patient connections. A behavioral health platform is built on these connections, with the patient’s specific health requirements and intended health outcomes as guiding principles. 

To better meet the requirements of their patients, care teams in the behavioral health platform go beyond the provision of standard medical care and instead focus on the individual’s psychological and social well-being.  However, this style of platform success generally depends on patients’ actively participating with their healthcare providers. This means that it’s essential for patients, their loved ones, and healthcare practitioners to work together actively and make decisions collectively. 

The quality of care provided to each individual can be enhanced by a patient-centered approach, which motivates people to take accountability for their health and well-being. 

• A Behavioral Mental Health Platform Can Help Reduce Healthcare Costs

Costs are significantly affected when mental and physical healthcare is integrated. A study conducted in 2018 estimated that Medicaid, Medicare, and dual-eligible patients in Colorado saved nearly $1.08 million thanks to the behavioral health platform and integrated primary care initiative. 

Fewer inpatient stays and other secondary uses accounted for most of these cost savings. And compared to patients without comorbidity, those who tend to have more extended hospital stays, higher healthcare costs and higher hospital readmission rates are due to their many conditions. 

• A Behavioral Mental Health Platform Minimizes Disparity between Mental and Physical Heal

As mentioned earlier, one’s mind and body are intertwined. Mental illnesses, for instance, are generally associated with an elevated risk of developing a broad spectrum of chronic physical conditions. And so, healthcare for the mind and body must be considered together.

The mind-body connection is becoming more and more acknowledged by the medical community. After all, the best health outcomes can be achieved by treating comorbid diseases together. This concept is now embraced by healthcare professionals, with the mental and physical health divide being overcome with behavioral health platforms that provide remote mental healthcare for patients with comorbidities. 

Wrapping It Up

Integrating behavioral health treatment into family medicine is just one of the several approaches to boost the healthcare industry and the efficiency of care and treatments administered to patients. To start, health plans can rely on behavioral health platforms as a top provider of mental health management for populations throughout the continuum.

Some of the benefits healthcare organizations can reap from utilizing behavioral health platforms include patient convenience and superior health results, among others. But aside from patient-and population-based clinical and administrative data, the behavioral health platform can also generate data that may be used to improve understanding of population health. Behavioral health platforms can also save money without sacrificing the quality of care by utilizing on-demand solutions for treatment, individualized healthcare, and patient engagement.