Treating the Growing Mental Health Pandemic Post-COVID
Over the last few months, we have seen COVID rates of transmission fall all over the United States. While some areas still have cause for concern, most of the nation has cautiously returned to the pre-pandemic normal.
For healthcare professionals treating mental health, however, the question remains what “normal” will look like. We saw mental illness and substance use disorders rise over the last two years by any metric, due to many factors including social distancing and financial concerns,” Patrick Bordnick, PhD, MPH, MSW stated in an article for the Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Learning Network, “Prior to the pandemic, we had a shortage of mental health professionals. Now that the need has increased, the shortage is more dire.”
Progression Map made available by CDC COVID Data Tracker, representing a decrease in severity of community transmission during the range February 26-March 28, 2022
In the same article, Tonya Hansel, PhD, LMSW, explained the issue we now face: “In disaster mental health, when the threat has dissipated and individuals move out of survival mode, behavioral health problems become more apparent, and consequently services, such as psychoeducation, therapy, and brief treatments, are needed.”
Dr. Bordnick and Dr. Hansel’s study identifies telehealth as one tool to help with this growing problem. “We serve Mental Health, Addiction and Eating Disorder Providers specifically and support through our modern technology platform, a blended approach to treatment care, in person and through telehealth”, shared Coletta Dorado, CEO and Founder of AZZLY, Inc. “Healthcare providers have become even more sensitive to what works best for their patient population and the key is keeping their recovery plan in place and moving forward.”
As an EHR vendor, we learned that a single sign-on experience to facilitate telehealth right from the provider’s calendar makes it seamless and easy to use. The call reminder, check in, and detailed signed clinical encounter, supports timely filing and a speedy reimbursement process.
Whatever the “new normal” looks like, AZZLY will invest in the future. We offer a “purpose built” electronic health record, patient management, and revenue cycle management solution for mental health and addiction treatment providers to help them achieve better patient and business outcomes. Schedule a discussion if you are considering a change or reach out to hello@azzly.com for more information.
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