Setting Up Your EHP and Paperwork
What is an Electronic Health Platform
An Electronic Health Platform (EHP) for therapists is a digital system designed to support the management, delivery, and coordination of health services. These platforms are used by therapists, including occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, and mental health professionals, to streamline various aspects of their practice. Key features of an electronic health platform for therapists typically include:
Electronic Health Records (EHRs): Digital versions of patients' paper charts. They contain comprehensive patient histories, treatment plans, progress notes, and other relevant health information.
Scheduling and Appointment Management: Tools to manage patient appointments, track availability, send reminders, and handle cancellations or rescheduling.
Billing and Invoicing: Integrated billing systems that handle insurance claims, process payments, and generate invoices for services rendered.
Documentation and Note-taking: Templates and forms for therapists to document sessions, treatment plans, progress notes, and other necessary records efficiently.
Telehealth Capabilities: Features that support remote therapy sessions via video conferencing, secure messaging, and other telehealth functionalities.
Patient Portal: A secure online access point for patients to view their health records, schedule appointments, communicate with their therapists, and manage their own health information.
Compliance and Security: Ensuring that the platform meets regulatory standards (like HIPAA in the United States) to protect patient privacy and data security.
Analytics and Reporting: Tools to analyze patient data, track outcomes, and generate reports to support clinical decision-making and improve practice management.
Integration with Other Systems: Ability to integrate with other healthcare systems, such as laboratories, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers, to facilitate coordinated care.
Popular examples of electronic health platforms for therapists include TheraNest, TherapyNotes, SimplePractice, and Cliniko. These platforms aim to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and quality of care provided by therapists while also improving patient engagement and outcomes.
Deciding on an Electronic Health Platform
First off, you don’t absolutely have to have an EHP to run private practice, but it does make it a lot easier. If you want to offer telehealth or take insurance you probably want an EHP. If not, its still a good idea because managing your notes and client files in a HIPPA compliant way without one is an organizational nightmare—but if you want to wait and save some cash first, that’s totally understandable.
Assuming you choose to get an EHP subscription here are some things to consider:
Cost: This seems obvious, but as you will notice there are very different price tags to the EHPs listed above and others you may find online. Why? They offer different add ons. For instance, Simple Practice tends to be pricier because you get a website and telehealth, though TherapyNotes also offers telehealth with a lesser price tag. Different EHPs are more user friendly than others as well, which is why I think it is worth choosing your top two and taking advantage of those free trials. Again, just be sure to cancel the one you don’t choose.
Ease of Notetaking: I am willing to bet you already spend more time on notes than you would like. During your free trials be sure to create a test client and see how note taking works. I chose TherapyNotes because the interventions check list is customizable and because the “history” button for each field makes some sections of my SOAP notes super fast. But you will want to figure out what meshes best with your personal note style.
Insurance Billing: I don’t bill insurance, but some EHPs bill for you for free, whereas others cost money for each claim.
Telehealth: If you want to offer telehealth (even if only in inclement weather), you might want to take the EHP’s telehealth capability, cost, and reviews into consideration.
Client Portal: What does the client portal look like? How easy is it to use? Can your clients sign their paperwork online?
Paperwork Customization: Can you customize your paperwork? How easy is it to do so? Sending documents like your NPP and Disclosures to clients should be as easy as possible for both you and the client.
