Netsmart, a leading provider of healthcare IT solutions for community-based care providers, is transforming the field of behavioral health through its innovative advancements in augmented intelligence (AI), automation, and mobile healthcare delivery. Showcased at the Mental Health Corporations of America (mhca) 2025 Winter Conference & Annual Meeting, Netsmart’s cutting-edge technology is designed to empower behavioral health leaders and revolutionize healthcare delivery.
AI-Driven Solutions for Enhanced Efficiency
Extending Capabilities of EHRs
At the core of Netsmart’s presentation is its groundbreaking work with AI-driven solutions aimed at extending the capabilities of electronic health records (EHRs). These integrated solutions are designed to enhance clinical workflows, optimize operational efficiency, and reduce the reliance on manual, repetitive tasks. By integrating AI into EHRs, Netsmart enables healthcare providers to streamline their processes and focus more on patient care rather than administrative duties. This investment in technology promises a future where clinical professionals can deliver better care with fewer administrative burdens.
The seamless integration of AI into EHRs leads to an enhanced user experience and a more efficient workflow. The system’s ability to automatically handle routine tasks allows healthcare professionals to allocate their time and energy towards more critical activities. Netsmart’s approach to leveraging AI within EHRs exemplifies its commitment to improving behavioral health services, demonstrating a significant step toward modernizing and optimizing healthcare delivery systems.
Bells Virtual Scribe
Central to Netsmart’s innovations is Bells, a comprehensive AI solution that features Bells Virtual Scribe. This advanced tool is designed to reduce the administrative burden on healthcare providers through ambient listening, near real-time transcription, and suggested note generation. Bells significantly cuts down documentation time, ensuring that providers spend less time on paperwork and more time on direct patient care. It adheres to best clinical documentation practices, providing invaluable support to healthcare professionals.
Through the use of ambient listening, Bells captures details during patient consultations, transcribes conversations, and generates notes that align with clinical documentation standards. This process not only ensures accuracy and consistency but also reduces the risk of errors caused by manual entry. Over time, Bells adapts to the unique preferences of each user, making the documentation process even more efficient. This thoughtful application of AI showcases Netsmart’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance the quality of care delivered by behavioral health professionals.
Natural Language Processing and Operational Benefits
Employing Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Bells employs natural language processing (NLP) to interpret content, support linguistic accuracy, and facilitate logistical tasks based on documented details. NLP enables the system to understand and process human language in a nuanced manner, ensuring that the generated notes are accurate and contextually appropriate. This sophisticated AI capability helps healthcare providers maintain fidelity to documentation standards while offering insights into patient progress.
The integration of NLP within Bells is transformative, as it not only supports accurate documentation but also facilitates the interpretation of complex medical language. This allows healthcare professionals to quickly and effectively communicate patient information across different platforms. By leveraging NLP, Bells improves the overall quality of documentation, ensuring that all necessary elements are captured and summarized accurately, thus enhancing the continuity of care for patients.
Streamlining Clinical Recommendations
In 2024 alone, Bells delivered over 6.5 million clinical recommendations and streamlined more than 2.2 million signed notes. This impressive feat underscores the powerful impact of utilizing AI within clinical workflows. By providing timely and accurate recommendations, Bells helps healthcare providers make informed decisions about patient care, reducing the need for manual review and increasing overall efficiency.
The system’s ability to integrate across multiple workflows, including Netsmart telehealth, further enhances its utility. When used during virtual care interactions, Bells leverages AI capabilities to deliver real-time support to healthcare providers. This not only improves the quality of virtual consultations but also ensures that patients receive consistent and comprehensive care regardless of the setting. Netsmart’s utilization of AI to streamline clinical recommendations is a testament to the profound benefits that technology can bring to behavioral health services.
Automation Across Business Areas
AlphaCollector™ and Benny
Netsmart’s commitment to AI and automation is evident in its approach to minimizing manual workloads. Key developments include AlphaCollector™, a collections management solution designed to reduce accounts receivable time and accelerate cash flow. This innovative solution significantly improves financial operations by streamlining the billing and collections processes, which can often be complex and time-consuming. Supported by Benny, a digital assistant, the system ensures that billing procedures are efficient and accurate.
Benny assists by automating routine tasks such as sending reminders for overdue payments, managing account follow-ups, and generating reports. This not only reduces the administrative load on staff but also helps maintain a steady cash flow, which is crucial for the financial health of healthcare organizations. Netsmart’s focus on improving financial operations through automation highlights the broader benefits of integrating AI into various business areas within healthcare settings.
Otto Virtual Support Assistant
Additionally, Otto, a virtual support assistant, enhances user experience by facilitating information sharing, enabling users to search the Netsmart Knowledge Base, and log support cases within the same session. This tool is designed to provide immediate assistance to users, helping them find solutions to their queries quickly and effectively. By using AI to streamline support functions, Netsmart significantly reduces the time staff spend seeking assistance, thereby improving overall productivity.
Otto’s ability to understand and respond to user queries in real-time ensures that healthcare providers can access the information they need without delay. This is particularly valuable in high-pressure environments where timely access to information can be critical. Additionally, Otto’s integration with the Knowledge Base ensures that users always have access to the most up-to-date and accurate information. Through innovations like Otto, Netsmart is effectively reducing administrative burdens and improving operational efficiency for healthcare providers.
Mobile Healthcare Delivery Innovations
Mobile Healthcare Clinics
A standout feature of Netsmart’s exhibit at the mhca conference is the immersive experience provided by cutting-edge mobile healthcare delivery clinics. Developed in collaboration with Netsmart Marketplace Partner Vandoit, these mobile healthcare vehicles are equipped with Netsmart technology solutions such as telehealth, integration with client treatment history, and mobile dispatch software. These mobile clinics are designed to bring high-quality mental health services to underserved areas, addressing the challenges of access to care in both urban and rural settings.
By leveraging mobile healthcare clinics, Netsmart ensures that behavioral health services are available to those who might otherwise face barriers to accessing care. These clinics are equipped with state-of-the-art technology to provide comprehensive care, including real-time access to patient records through integrated EHRs. The use of mobile dispatch software further enhances the efficiency of service delivery, ensuring that professional staff can be deployed swiftly to meet patient needs.
Supporting Remote and Urban Areas
These innovations support mental health services on the go, whether in remote rural areas or busy urban centers, ensuring that community-based care providers can deliver high-quality care regardless of location. The mobile clinics are designed to be versatile and adaptable, capable of providing a wide range of services, from initial assessments to ongoing therapy sessions and follow-up care. This flexibility is crucial for meeting the diverse needs of different communities and ensuring that all individuals have access to the care they need.
The success of these mobile clinics lies in their ability to integrate seamlessly with existing healthcare systems. By connecting to Netsmart’s broader network of services, these clinics ensure that patient care is continuous and coordinated. Health records, treatment plans, and other critical information are easily accessible, enabling providers to offer informed and compassionate care on the go. Netsmart’s commitment to mobile healthcare delivery underscores the company’s dedication to expanding access to mental health services and addressing disparities in healthcare availability.
Building Trust and Aligning AI with Goals
Effective Strategies for AI Implementation
During the Netsmart AI User Group Luncheon, Matthew Arnheiter, SVP of Innovations, and Chris Yakscoe, Sr. Director & GM of Bells, presented effective strategies for implementing AI in human services. They emphasized building trust and aligning AI with organizational goals, a critical component for the successful adoption of new technologies. The presenters discussed principles for responsible AI use, focusing on transparency, accountability, and the importance of maintaining ethical standards in AI applications.
Understanding the organizational readiness for AI implementation is crucial. Arnheiter and Yakscoe highlighted the need for thorough assessments to gauge how prepared an organization is for integrating AI into its operations. This involves evaluating existing workflows, technology infrastructure, and staff readiness. By aligning AI initiatives with organizational goals, Netsmart ensures that the technology serves as an enabler for achieving broader strategic objectives, rather than a disruptive force.
Readiness Assessment and Successful Implementations
The presenters conducted a readiness assessment to gauge attendees’ stages of AI adoption and highlighted successful AI implementations, showcasing its potential to support clinical outcomes, enhance efficiency, and reduce costs while prioritizing safety. These real-world examples underscored the tangible benefits of AI, demonstrating how its thoughtful and strategic use can transform behavioral health services. Successful implementations revealed improvements in clinical decision-making, operational workflows, and financial management.
By sharing these case studies, Netsmart provided valuable insights into the practical steps involved in adopting AI. The importance of continuous training and support was also highlighted, ensuring that staff are equipped to work effectively alongside AI tools. The strategies discussed during the luncheon emphasized Netsmart’s commitment to fostering an environment where AI can be seamlessly integrated, enhancing care delivery while maintaining high standards of safety and efficacy.
Celebrating Leadership and Future Innovations
Leadership Changes at mhca
In addition to its technological advancements, Netsmart extends congratulations to Dale Shreve on his retirement and celebrates Kiara Kuenzler’s recent appointment as the new President & CEO of mhca. This leadership change marks a significant moment for the organization, and Netsmart is eager to continue its collaborative journey to advance innovation and support mhca’s mission. The strong partnership between Netsmart and mhca underscores their shared commitment to improving behavioral health services through innovative solutions.
Kuenzler’s appointment brings a renewed focus on strategic advancements and continuous improvement within the realm of behavioral health. Under her leadership, mhca is expected to continue driving forward initiatives that prioritize patient care, operational efficiency, and community-based support. This alignment of leadership vision with technological advancements positions both mhca and Netsmart to make meaningful impacts in the field.
Engaging with Industry Experts
Netsmart, a leading healthcare IT solutions provider for community-based care, is revolutionizing behavioral health with its innovative advancements in augmented intelligence (AI), automation, and mobile healthcare delivery. These breakthrough technologies, highlighted at the Mental Health Corporations of America (mhca) 2025 Winter Conference & Annual Meeting, showcase Netsmart’s commitment to enhancing the capabilities of behavioral health leaders and transforming the landscape of healthcare delivery.
Their AI solutions streamline administrative tasks, allowing healthcare professionals to dedicate more time to patient care, while automation improves efficiency and accuracy, reducing human error. Mobile healthcare delivery facilitates seamless access to care, ensuring patients receive timely and personalized treatment, especially those in remote areas. Altogether, these advancements promise to empower providers, improve patient outcomes, and drive the future of behavioral health, making high-quality care more accessible and effective.
