Does your mental health practice need an EHR system? Given its benefits and how it reduces administrative burdens, it’s time to make the switch.
Let’s discuss the importance of having a mental health EHR system and the top EHR systems for your practice.
5 Best EHR for Mental Health Professionals and Clinics:
The Importance of EHR in Mental Health
EHR systems keep digital versions of your client’s medical records, making healthcare more efficient. They automate routine administrative processes, thereby reducing paperwork. EHR systems include features such as voice dictation, document templates, and online scheduling to keep more accurate and organized records.
They also enable collaboration among mental health providers. One key functionality of EHR is that different hospitals, laboratories, clinics, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers can be allowed access. Patients visiting multiple providers or those changing providers can easily have their records shared or transferred.
1. Vagaro
Vagaro is an all-in-one practice management and EHR software for mental health practices. Its platform offers appointment scheduling, calendar management, charting, medical billing, and scheduling. It is also among the most affordable platforms, with plans starting at $25.
Key EMR features:
- HIPAA-compliant virtual appointments
- Custom intake forms and patient notes
- EMR notes and forms are automatically stored on patient profiles
- Create custom forms or use a template
- Dual signatures feature for forms that need signatures
- Custom branded app
- Optional add-ons for storage, email marketing, text marketing, live streaming and more
2. SimplePractice
SimplePractice is also a complete practice management platform with EHR capabilities. It’s a flexible solution that fits businesses of all sizes, starting at $29 monthly for unlimited clients. To add telehealth services to the lowest-tier plan, you need to add $15 per month.
Key EMR features:
- Unlimited clients
- HIPAA-compliant virtual appointments
- Progress notes
- Diagnosis and treatment plans
- Invoicing and billing
- Live customer support
- Mobile app
3. TheraNest
A cloud-based EHR and practice management software in one, TheraNest offers rich features. The platform is one of the leading EHRs for mental health private practitioners or large therapy practices, including social service organizations, schools, and family counseling centers. The price starts at $39 monthly for 30 clients.
Key EMR features:
- Customizable progress notes and intake forms
- Telehealth features
- Wiley treatment planner and progress notes ($25 per month per therapist)
- Unlimited document storage
- Clinical documentation
- Billing and invoicing
- Multiple time zone scheduling
- HIPAA-compliant messaging and self-scheduling
- 21-day trial, no credit card required
4. TherapyNotes
TherapyNotes is one of the most trusted EHRs for mental health practices. It offers everything you need to manage patient medical records, including e-prescriptions, payment processing, client portals, billing, scheduling, and telehealth services. Plans start at $49 monthly per user for unlimited clients.
Key EMR features:
- Unlimited file storage
- Unlimited clients, appointments, and notes
- Import data from other EHR systems
- Free 30-day trial
- Optional add-ons like billing, appointment reminders, payment processing, MIPS reporting, and more
5. CounSol.com
An online practice management software, CounSol also offers helpful EHR features. It’s among the pricier platforms on this list, starting at $69.95 per month plus $45 for each additional counselor. However, therapists and counselors in private or group practices will benefit from its rich features, which are usually only included as optional add-ons in other EHR software.
Key EMR features:
- Client treatment plans and progress notes
- Secure client records and notes
- Custom client site
- Secure messaging
- Schedule group sessions
- Client billing and invoicing
- Client journal
- Online booking
- Client birthday notifications
- Personal account manager
Choosing an EHR Software for Mental Health: Key Considerations
All the EHR for mental health software listed here is top-rated according to user reviews. The best EHR for mental health private practice or large practices depends on your needs and budget. Also, make sure that they can offer the following:
- HIPAA compliance with a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA)
- Advanced security features to protect your data
- Intuitive interface and quick deployment
- Customer support
If available, take advantage of the free trial and demo to get a feel of their services. While customer reviews and articles like these are helpful, nothing compares to experiencing the product firsthand.
Implement Best Practices When Using Mental Health EHR
Choosing among the best mental health EHRs is only the first step. Remember to implement best practices to ensure you get the full benefits from your mental health software.
Prioritize training your staff on proper EHR use in line with your organization’s protocols on information confidentiality. It might require a learning curve, but its long-term benefits are worth the time and costs. Second, enable HIPAA features and follow privacy policies. Protecting data will help your mental health practice thrive in the current times, where breaches in healthcare data are becoming increasingly common.
