ContinuumCloud recently held a panel session to discuss how behavioral health organizations can leverage the CaredFor app to expand the continuum of care. We were joined by special guest speakers, Sophia Iovenitti, Shane Hassler, and Colleen Fry, who discussed their personal experiences using the CaredFor app at their organization. If you didn’t have a chance to join us, you can watch a recording of the panel session on demand here. Or, read this recap to explore some of the key things that were discussed.
Behavioral health organizations are tasked out with supporting patients in their path to wellbeing, helping to promote better long-term outcomes. However, patient care is often limited to the confines of hour-long sessions, leaving the patient to fend for themselves outside of treatment settings. Given the complex nature of behavioral health care, finding ways to support clients beyond traditional care settings is essential for improving outcomes. This is where the CaredFor app truly shines. As a fully featured patient engagement platform, this mobile app provides a way for organizations to connect and engage with patients before, during, and after treatment. The impact it can have has been felt across organizations that have adopted and embraced this solution.
How the CaredFor App Supports the Entire Patient Journey
Sophia Iovenitti, Alumni Program Manager for Newport Healthcare noted that one member had referred to their branded app as “mental health Twitter,” speaking to its social media-like design as well as the supportive space the app provides. Her organization is also very intentional about posting resources and patient education regularly to generate movement and interest, similar to other social media environments. With HIPAA protection and privacy built in, the CaredFor app allows organizations to cultivate the safe space their patients need, especially during more vulnerable times such as post-discharge. She noted that being able to reach out when someone is struggling and being able to make a connection through the app has allowed her organization to help people in a way they couldn’t before.
Shane Hassler, Program Director of Digital Services at Gateway Foundation shared a similar sentiment. He noted that traditional care has been inpatient, outpatient, and then figure it out on your own. The app changes this dynamic by allowing individuals to maintain connection however long it’s needed and wanted. The communication aspect of the app has also been a valuable resource for Gateway Foundation, allowing information to get out to the appropriate audiences. When organizations have multiple locations, different teams, or different populations being served, being able to tailor messages accordingly has improved communication across the entire organization. The more personalized approach that the app allows for also comes full circle in helping organizations reach out sooner and provide support when patient interactions in the app suggest an individual is struggling.
Colleen Fry, Director of Alumni Relations at Rosecrance also noted that the CaredFor app has made a difference in patient engagement. Essentially, the app puts patients in charge of their own care with features like a gratitude journal and a wellness tracker that patients can self-report their current state. For individuals currently in treatment, this can help providers tie patient experiences to treatment and outcomes, helping them to tailor treatment plans and understand what is or isn’t working. The app also provides resources to support patients throughout the patient journey. Colleen noted that the app helps maintain structure, community, and support, making it an invaluable tool for behavioral health organizations.
Making an Impact and Driving Value with the CaredFor App
All three guest speakers noted that the CaredFor app is also valuable for measuring impact and outcomes. Organizations can track all types of metrics, including things as simple as number of interactions within the app and number of members actively using the app. But the value goes further than that, with BAM assessments and related surveys and tools that can help organizations track and report on long-term outcomes long after a patient has been discharged. With features like peer referrals, digital interventions, and private messaging with providers, the CaredFor app helps to close the loop on the patient experience, ensuring individuals have better access to care no matter where they are in their journey. For organizations, the robust set of features and metrics allow for better visibility and connection as well, driving better long-term outcomes that support a value-based care model.
As Sophia summed up, the CaredFor app enables “sustainable healing” because patients, families, and alumni know that “you always have us in your pocket.”
Learn More About the CaredFor App
You can hear more insights and experiences from Sophia, Shane, and Colleen in the on-demand webinar. Or, reach out to us today for a personalized demo to see how the CaredFor app can help transform your organizational outcomes.
