3 Ways to Improve Process Efficiency in Mental Healthcare Settings

Mental healthcare needs are rising worldwide. Undoubtedly, the lasting impact of the pandemic and growing inflation are heavily responsible. Many issues plague vulnerable minds today. There's barely any respite from socio-political conflicts in a divisive world. Worries about climate change are legitimate.

The good thing is that mental healthcare settings are persevering to handle these challenges. Technological solutions, especially those driven by AI, are enabling professionals and patients to communicate effectively. The American Psychological Association notes the rising popularity of chatbots. They can have an edge in being conversational and empathetic, making them a sought-after friend in need. 

Many psychiatric settings are committing to tech-based improvements today. These could be conversational tools or automated transcriptions. Additionally, healthcare organizations must also re-examine their everyday processes. 

Here are three steps healthcare firms can take to streamline day-to-day operations. They can be a solid move forward for higher efficiency and dependability.

1. Automate Admin Tasks to Boost Patient Engagement

Accessing support for mental health problems remains a difficult decision for many people. It raises fears about social stigma—a situation not helped by pop-culture misrepresentations. 

The CDC observes that seeking professional help remains tough even for healthcare providers. A 2023 survey found that only 38 percent sought care for their symptoms. Several reported that they couldn’t take time off work.

These circumstances become more trying when patients face complicated administrative tasks. Who wants to fret over intake forms and waiting times when already battling stressors? 

Many people also worry about confidentiality issues. It is a valid concern in healthcare settings that have inadequate data protection measures.

Mental health settings can see improvements by automating patient intake and management tasks. Consider appointment scheduling and follow-ups. Periodic, automated reminders could be the nudge that turns a no-show into an engaged patient invested in their wellness. 

Artificial intelligence can also be of immense assistance in this context. When implemented with caution, it can support both patients and healthcare firms. For example, an AI tool can detect the likelihood of a missed appointment based on a patient’s history. Early detection can save resources. It can also keep a patient’s condition from aggravating.

How You Could Go About It:

Consider using AI to process incoming tasks, such as a new patient appointment, and forward it to the correct teammate. Workast can implement a smart task triage that sorts incoming tasks by their priority, type, or project.  

Further, different patients may use various platforms to interact with their medical team. A competent AI-driven tool can pull in tasks from email, forms, and other sources to ensure nothing is missed. Having scheduling and logistics sorted can leave practitioners with more time to connect with patients.

Besides patient appointments, here are some more tasks you can automate to witness process efficiency in healthcare environments:

2. Concerted Inputs from Interdisciplinary Teams

Mental health is often dependent on several factors, from physical illness and co-morbidities to family and social conditions. 

Consider a unique Frontiers study that revealed a fascinating connection between periodontitis and depression. Research shows a positive correlation between the two. It means managing depression could benefit from treating oral diseases.

Meaningful progress in mental health management needs coordination between various departments. Case in point: occupational therapy and physiotherapy. It necessitates streamlined interactions between these departments in clinics and other similar environments. 

Streamlining processes will also require specific group practice competencies in professionals. Nowadays, pursuing psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner programs online empowers nursing professionals with skills related to communication and organized health assessments. 

Pursuing learning online already gives them a head start in embracing flexibility and remote communication. Such interdisciplinary group practice lets them provide better assistance with handling mental health and substance abuse problems.

According to Cleveland State University, supporting patients across their lifespans also requires health practitioners to identify co-morbidities. It allows them to understand the interrelationship between physical and psychiatric conditions. Simplifying the involved processes of data collection and security will be essential to inspire trust in this aspect of healthcare.

How You Could Go About It:

Interdisciplinary team interactions can become more efficient if organizations implement communication protocols. These must integrate real-time updates and feedback to improve collaboration and quality of work.

Workast’s intuitive visual interface clearly depicts tasks across the team so everyone is looped in. Organizations can set up custom AI triggers that fire reminders and notifications based on keywords. Thus, interested team members can choose to participate in workshops or discussions on holistic patient care, even if not directly pertinent to their department.

For example, consider the benefits of getting team members from marketing and HR with front desk employees who interact with patients directly. The latter may have valuable inputs on patient behavior, such as the hesitation in scheduling a follow-up for therapy. Team meetings that bring such issues to the forefront can help healthcare organizations make a meaningful difference to the community.

3. Work With Families and Caregivers for Optimal Results

Most of us intuitively know: Family support is crucial for good health. We all appreciate feeling cared for. We understand that our wellness impacts other household members. However, we possibly underestimate the magnitude of this impact.

A 2024 BMC Public Health study showed that perceived family support improves numerous aspects of wellness. It majorly enhances socio-emotional and psychological well-being by helping people feel supported and recognized.

It follows that mental healthcare settings can experience process efficiencies by involving family members and other caregivers of the patients. In its simplest form, institutions can encourage families to assist patients with timely arrivals and required testing. It can reduce waiting times and facilitate on-time appointments for subsequent patients.

Additionally, organizations can leverage technology to share educational content with caregivers. Such content can assist them with daily care. It may cover easy-to-follow guides and tips for carving out time to seek complementary therapies, such as mindfulness meditation or sleep support. 

For example, why not gather periodic feedback forms that capture the patient’s perceived benefits from the current treatment? It could be little steps, such as completing mood trackers or writing in a bullet journal. Over time, involving family members in patient interventions can improve results.

Families may also interact with medical professionals to share the specific needs of patients. Frequently, these factors, such as dietary habits, can impact treatment outcomes. 

How You Could Go About It:

Healthcare firms can explore AI-based solutions to facilitate smoother interactions between caregivers, patients, and practitioners. These solutions can expedite customer support, a pain point in many industries. 

Workast can assist organizations with AI-routed tickets to streamline issue resolution. For instance,  caregivers could be waiting for booklets explaining how to support patients with dementia. Or they may be expecting an intake form for group therapy. Since many healthcare facilities are overburdened and understaffed, the chances of team members overlooking important events or discussions are high.

Clear work deliverables, with priorities and timelines, will help staffers support anxious family members. No one needs to experience unreasonable delays because the facility lacked clarity on the expectations. 

The impact of technological interventions has started to become visible across mental healthcare. The potential is inspiring, from machine learning solutions for predicting bed occupancy in facilities to clinical decision-making in neurodivergence management. 

Getting started with process improvements in your organization can build a concrete foundation for long-term patient support.