Introduction to Behavioral Health Innovations
Several IT companies and healthcare organizations are making news in the behavioral health space recently. Talkspace, for instance, said its new mobile patient engagement tool can reinforce recommended practices between mental health visits. Additionally, ProsperityEHR debuted its AI-ready architecture for electronic health records that automates key workflows from patient intake to claims processing. Meanwhile, Duke Health said one of its AI models – developed and tested by multiple departments over five years – can predict the risk of adolescent mental illness, enabling primary care providers and pediatricians to intervene before teen mental health disorders escalate.
Personalized Podcasts for Patients
On Monday, Talkspace launched the ability for mental health professionals to produce AI-generated audio experiences with personalized affirmations, guidance and strategies to reinforce their patients’ therapeutic progress between sessions. The company’s customers can use the new Talkcast feature to generate and review a 3-to-5-minute, HIPAA-compliant episode before sending podcasts to clients aged 18 or over. Therapeutic exercises can lead to better patient outcomes, the company said. By enabling caregivers to incorporate them into podcasts, the tools extend provider access to patients, helping them practice skills recommended for treatment.
How Talkcast Works
Talkcast references the concepts patients introduce and discuss in sessions. Providers can curate and design a mobile-ready podcast episode featuring an AI-voice-generated host for each patient that opts in to receiving them. "Our AI tools are designed to enhance – not replace – the therapist-client relationship by providing personalized support throughout the course of care," Michael Rodio, general manager of AI at Talkspace, added.
New Next-Gen EHR for Practices
Last week, Madison, Wisconsin-based ProsperityEHR released its new EHR designed for behavioral health organizations to enhance their financial stability, streamline operations and improve patient care with an AI-ready architecture. The new EHR connects mental health workflows in one system that also connects insurance verification, clearinghouses, e-prescribing platforms and telehealth solutions, the company said. Only 6% of mental health facilities and 29% of substance use treatment centers have implemented a certified EHR, compared to a more than 96% adoption rate in hospitals.
Benefits of ProsperityEHR
The platform is designed to help behavioral health practices improve their interoperability as well as "weather any storm," according to Melissa Tran, the company’s CEO. "ProsperityEHR has made administrative tasks much more efficient while also streamlining documentation for our clinicians," Jessica Rivera, owner and clinical director of Clear View Behavioral Services, added.
AI that Can Predict Teen Mental Illness
Duke Health announced the research results earlier this month that showed an AI model for psychosocial and brain development proved 84% accurate in predicting escalating illness within a year. For the more than 11,000 children, the researchers built a neural network that mimics brain connections to predict which children would transition from lower to higher psychiatric risk within a year.
How the AI Model Works
The model was used to score a questionnaire that ranks responses from the patient or parent about current behaviors, feelings and symptoms. Nearly half of the teenage population will experience a mental illness, according to Dr. Jonathan Posner, professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and senior author of the study. "Our AI model could be used in primary care settings, enabling pediatricians and other providers to immediately know whether the child in front of them is at high risk and empowering them to intervene before symptoms escalate," he said.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these innovations in the behavioral health space have the potential to revolutionize the way mental health care is delivered. From personalized podcasts to AI-powered EHRs and predictive models, these tools can help improve patient outcomes, streamline clinical workflows, and enhance the overall quality of care.
FAQs
Q: What is Talkspace’s new feature?
A: Talkspace’s new feature is called Talkcast, which allows mental health professionals to produce AI-generated audio experiences with personalized affirmations, guidance and strategies to reinforce their patients’ therapeutic progress between sessions.
Q: What is ProsperityEHR?
A: ProsperityEHR is a new EHR designed for behavioral health organizations to enhance their financial stability, streamline operations and improve patient care with an AI-ready architecture.
Q: How accurate is Duke Health’s AI model in predicting teen mental illness?
A: Duke Health’s AI model is 84% accurate in predicting escalating illness within a year.
Q: What is the goal of these innovations in the behavioral health space?
A: The goal of these innovations is to improve patient outcomes, streamline clinical workflows, and enhance the overall quality of care.
