Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare, a publicly funded entity providing behavioral health services for uninsured and indigent populations in Omaha, Neb., and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago have implemented advanced case management solutions to collect, manage and report on their data from a variety of sources, according to eHealth Initiative.
Here are five important things to consider when selecting an HIT platform based on the experiences of these two organizations.
1. Opt for user-friendliness, accessibility and maneuverability. These are paramount characteristics of case management software and being mindful of them will account for ease of data entrance and configurability.
2. Consider growth. Will the system allow for scalability in the future? If so, will it require additional costs or will it be flexible enough to meet changing needs and goals efficiently?
3. Work with a system that works with your organization. Every hospital or healthcare system has individual needs and in turn requires specific output from its software. The software should be able to be tailored for those specific needs, enabling clinicians and staff to access the specific information they need quickly.
4. Consider how new staff will adapt to the software. It should provide an interface that new users can adapt to with relative ease while also offering a broader array of information and tools for the experienced user.
5. Select a software manufacturer that demonstrates a willingness to coordinate and work as a team. As systems become more integrated and patient information is exchanged between care providers, case managements systems that demonstrate a drive to make these connections as simply and seamlessly as possible is key.
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