TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving service coordination and reducing mental health disparities through adoption of electronic health records
AU - McGregor, Brian
AU - Mack, Dominic
AU - Wrenn, Glenda
AU - Shim, Ruth
AU - Holden, Kisha
AU - Satcher, David
PY - 2015/9/1
Y1 - 2015/9/1
N2 - Despite widespread support for removing barriers to the use of electronic health records (EHRs) in behavioral health care, adoption of EHRs in behavioral health settings lags behind adoption in other areas of health care. The authors discuss barriers to use of EHRs among behavioral health care practitioners, suggest solutions to overcome these barriers, and describe the potential benefits of EHRs to reduce behavioral health care disparities. Thoughtful and comprehensive strategies will be needed to design EHR systems that address concerns about policy, practice, costs, and stigma and that protect patients' privacy and confidentiality. However, these goals must not detract from continuing to challenge the notion that behavioral health and general medical health should be treated as separate and distinct. Ultimately, utilization of EHRs among behavioral health care providers will improve the coordination of services and overall patient care, which is essential to reducing mental health disparities.
AB - Despite widespread support for removing barriers to the use of electronic health records (EHRs) in behavioral health care, adoption of EHRs in behavioral health settings lags behind adoption in other areas of health care. The authors discuss barriers to use of EHRs among behavioral health care practitioners, suggest solutions to overcome these barriers, and describe the potential benefits of EHRs to reduce behavioral health care disparities. Thoughtful and comprehensive strategies will be needed to design EHR systems that address concerns about policy, practice, costs, and stigma and that protect patients' privacy and confidentiality. However, these goals must not detract from continuing to challenge the notion that behavioral health and general medical health should be treated as separate and distinct. Ultimately, utilization of EHRs among behavioral health care providers will improve the coordination of services and overall patient care, which is essential to reducing mental health disparities.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84941218655&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84941218655&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1176/appi.ps.201400095
DO - 10.1176/appi.ps.201400095
M3 - Article
C2 - 25975885
AN - SCOPUS:84941218655
VL - 66
SP - 985
EP - 987
JO - Hospital and Community Psychiatry
JF - Hospital and Community Psychiatry
SN - 1075-2730
IS - 9
ER -