Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are transforming behavioral healthcare by providing comprehensive, coordinated services for mental health and substance use disorders. However, many CCBHCs face challenges such as workforce shortages, fragmented care systems and the pressure to meet rigorous quality metrics. Digital tools offer promising solutions by extending the reach and efficiency of CCBHCs’ services.
CCBHCs represent a federally certified model designed to close gaps in behavioral health access and quality. Since their inception, CCBHCs have expanded nationwide under value-based payment structures that support a “whole person” approach to care. As these clinics grow, they confront complex demands — from coordinating multidisciplinary services 24/7 to tracking outcomes for diverse populations. Digital integration has become a strategic imperative to meet these demands. Research indicates that technology can alleviate pressure points across the care continuum by automating workflows, enhancing communication and extending care beyond clinic walls.
For example, a national study of CCBHCs found that 72 percent of clinics adopted new technologies (such as electronic health records, mobile apps, and telehealth platforms) to support care delivery. These investments were associated with improvements in patient outreach, crisis response capacity and same-day access protocols. Historically, many behavioral health providers lagged in health IT adoption (partly due to exclusion from earlier federal incentives), underscoring the need for modern interoperable systems to support integrated care.
A range of digital tools can support CCBHC operations and clinical services. These include: telehealth platforms for virtual counseling and psychiatry; Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems that centralize patient information and quality reporting; care coordination software to manage referrals, follow-ups and team communication; digital intervention platforms (like Atlas) that deliver therapeutic content and skills practice online; analytics dashboards that track outcomes and equity metrics in real-time; and patient engagement applications/portals for education, appointment reminders and two-way communication. The following table summarizes key categories of digital tools relevant to CCBHCs and their core functions:
|
Digital Tool Category |
Examples/Description |
Key Features and Benefits for CCBHCs |
|
Telehealth Platforms |
Secure video and audio systems for remote therapy, psychiatry and crisis consults (e.g., Zoom for Healthcare, Doxy.me, Teladoc). |
Increases access for rural or home-bound clients, reduces no-shows (telehealth no-show rate ~12% vs. 25% in-person), and enables 24/7 crisis coverage. |
|
Electronic Health Records (EHR) |
Integrated patient record systems with behavioral health modules (e.g., Netsmart, Credible). |
Centralizes clinical documentation, supports measurement-based care, alerts for care gaps and enables data sharing across providers (if interoperable). |
|
Care Coordination Software |
Tools for case management, referral tracking and inter-team communication (e.g., care coordination modules in EHR, or standalone platforms like CareManager). |
Facilitates multidisciplinary teamwork by tracking client progress in real time, scheduling follow-ups, sending task reminders and ensuring no client “falls through the cracks.” |
|
Digital Intervention Platforms |
Online applications delivering therapeutic content and exercises (e.g., Atlas by The Change Companies [Interactive Journaling®]). |
Provides evidence-based interventions on-demand (CBT exercises, psychoeducation, journaling prompts), enhances engagement between sessions and standardizes care quality across providers. |
|
Analytics Dashboards |
Reporting tools and business intelligence software (e.g., Atlas measurement tools, Power BI dashboards integrated with EHR, SAMHSA quality measure trackers). |
Monitors key performance indicators (KPIs) such as engagement, retention, outcome measures and disparities. Real-time analytics support data-informed quality improvement. |
In short, CCBHCs that leverage technology are better positioned to achieve the “quadruple aim” of improved patient experience, improved population health, reduced costs and improved provider work life.
Evidence-based, behavioral health Interactive Journaling® curricula, including My Life in Recovery, are now available digitally on Atlas.
Digital interventions offer a number of benefits that can enhance the quality and accessibility of care. By accommodating staff shortages, increasing engagement and providing real-time data, such tools have the potential to transform the landscape of behavioral healthcare.