Looking at digital adoption for your treatment organization? These three questions can help you find the right tech vendor.
Clinical directors face growing pressures like workforce burnout and surging service demand. In fact, over half of behavioral health providers report symptoms of burnout, a clear sign that traditional ways of working are unsustainable. At the same time, clients increasingly expect convenient, tech-enabled care experiences. As one healthcare leader noted, younger consumers “use their phone for banking... Why are their expectations for health care going to be any different?”
The good news is that the tools to modernize your program are readily available. Most organizations have already adopted electronic records or other basics (over 93 percent of behavioral health providers now use an EHR, so building on this digital foundation is very feasible. By embracing proven platforms and strategies, even resource-strapped treatment programs can streamline operations, enhance client engagement and improve outcomes.
But how do you identify which behavioral health technology solutions and vendors are right for your organization? These three questions can help you identify the providers that will solve your greatest challenges:
Question 1: How will this tool reduce staff time or burden?
Ask for specifics on how the platform will make your clinicians’ and case managers’ jobs easier. For instance, does it automate documentation or quicken treatment planning? A good vendor should provide examples or even data (e.g. “On average, counselors using our system spend 20 percent less time on paperwork”). This question gets at ROI and efficiency — if a tool doesn’t clearly ease staff workload, it may not be worth adopting.
Question 2: How do you support fidelity to evidence-based practices?
You want to know that the digital content and workflows will reinforce clinical methods that work. Does the platform come with standardized, research-backed curricula or prompts (like
CBT exercises, motivational questions, etc.)? The vendor’s answer should reassure you that adopting their technology will enhance clinical quality and consistency in your program.
Question 3: What training and support are included post-launch?
Even the best software will flop if users aren’t supported in learning and troubleshooting it. Ask the vendor about their onboarding process and ongoing support. Do they provide live webinar training for your team? Is there a library of tutorials or a help center for quick reference? Will you have a dedicated account manager or support line for questions after you go live?
Also, inquire about how they assist with updates or new feature rollouts. Essentially, you want a vendor that will be a long-term partner — guiding your staff early on and being responsive to issues over time. Clear answers here distinguish vendors who truly understand implementation in clinical settings.
The answers to these questions will help you make a confident, well-informed decision that can drive your treatment program forward into the future.
Evidence-based, behavioral health Interactive Journaling® curricula are available digitally on Atlas. Atlas can save staff time while supporting fidelity to evidence-based practices.