Behavioral Health Data Standards

The past three years I have been a part of many initiatives to understand, develop, change and promote the use of data standards within electronic medical records (EHRs) such as the TIER Workflow Systems.  It is almost surreal to be part of a movement that will have such a major affect on behavioral health, addiction treatment and social services while most of the providers are not at all aware of this movement.

The national movement to promote the adoption of EHRs in the United States will greatly rely on the setting of data standards.  How does that happen?  Like many I struggle to conceive of the actual adoption of any standard within an industry that is not purely science  based and offers such varied services and modalities of treatment.  I do see the extreme benefit of this goal and realize the profound and life saving, cost saving and quality of care change it will have on our industries.  If you are one of the many that think no never will happen or no that is for hospitals or only behavioral health I strongly suggest you read “Preparing for Future Standards by Implementing an Electronic Health Record System Now.” It was he result of a work group comprised of software CEOs and mental health/addiction treatment CEOs and sparked my concern and excitement of the impact of setting of behavioral health and addiction treatment standards.

Recently I presented a workshop at CIMH called Preparing for Standards.  California as I have said is the most versed and prepared state for the federal movement toward interoperability and data standards, however the audience challenged the possibility of ever reaching a conscensus on how or what we all exactly do.  My comment was I am not sure we will be asked, so please engage with your associations, memberships and professions to continue involvement and advocacy for assistance in the area of the adoption of data standards and the federal initiative to promote widespread adoption of EHRs.

BC