As with many other industries, the behavioral health care industry has started to revolutionize its technology. By advancing technology in health care, clinics are altering the way they practice, patients will receive better care, and researchers will receive more data. The enhanced technological solutions pave the way for a more insightful means of understanding mental health. Below are three key trends available at the forefront of behavioral health care technology.
1. Telepsychology Health
There are various issues that can prevent individuals from seeking health care, such as long-distance travel, disabilities, or apprehension of seeking care. However, the latest trend of telepsychology is making mental health care more accessible to different individuals. This type of care involves the use of webcams or mobile devices instead of face-to-face therapy sessions. While the treatment is similar to the in-person therapy option, it has opened doors to therapeutic treatment for many people and has broadened the scope of treatments available.
The text crisis center has also experienced increased success in providing help to people in need. This method of communication differs from telepsychology in that it is available 24/7, as compared to a scheduled webcam call with a specific therapist. Certain non-profit organizations offer text crisis interventions free of charge. This method involves a person sending in a text message to the organization and connecting with a crisis counselor via this SMS.
While the crisis counselors are volunteers and may not be certified counseling professionals, they have experience in helping people regain balance; thereby, allowing the user to cope more effectively with life problems.
Crisis centers or organizations offer 24/7 assistance via text messaging.
2. Multi-Location with Multi-Entity Financial Visibility
The majority of behavioral health care organizations are growing against a background of regulatory changes. Leaders in this sector can find it challenging to monitor performance and maintain financial processes to run a smooth practice, particularly when there are several organization locations.
Cloud-computing products can assist with medical accounting ranging from tracking accounts payable and receivable to the general ledger, purchasing accounts, cash management, and reporting. The medical accounting program automates the full procure-to-payment cycle using the most cost-effective and fully-functioning cloud-based medical accounting software.
Many more businesses are beginning to see the value of products as they integrate disparate data from various systems, remove tiresome spreadsheet-based financial consolidation procedures, and accelerate the monthly closing; all while gaining insight into the operational and financial performance of the health care organization.
With over 2 billion people using smartphones across the globe, researchers and clinicians believe they are moving therapy into the digital realm; therefore, providing health care with the following advantages:
1) Convenience – treatment can occur at any place and at any time.
2) Beginner care – it is a positive first step for individuals who chose to avoid therapy in previous years.
3) Cost-effectiveness – certain apps are free or less expensive than visiting a licensed therapist.
4) Anonymity – treatments can occur without the involvement of other individuals.
Once the mobile apps are installed on the smartphone, the user will be able to text the Chatbot and discuss their experiences. The Chatbot will respond to the user utilizing the principles and concepts of behavioral therapy, emotion-recognition, and conversation flow as scripted by qualified psychologists.
The majority of people in today’s society are familiar with virtual reality and therapy organizations utilize this insight to improve therapeutic health care. Typically, virtual reality goggles are used for video games or entertainment; however, virtual reality is being utilized by therapy organizations as a method of treating phobias and schizophrenia. It is the ideal method to provide exposure therapy within a secure environment. Exposure therapy is used to treat conditions by exposing the individual to the feared situation or object and helping them overcome the distress being felt.
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