Enhancing Autism Services with Technology

The demand for autism-related services in the U.S. has increased 30 percent over the last decade. More community providers are expanding their services to individuals and their families by adding new lines of business to support autism services. Providing support and services for individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder typically requires unique workflows and other considerations.

With so many types of services to provide across a diverse community with various needs, it’s important for provider organizations to have the right tools and processes on hand to manage it all. This is where a good technology partner with dynamic solutions can come in to play.

How can organizations focus on staff and elevate service delivery for individuals being served? Look for a comprehensive health IT solution that can:

Streamline services

Piecing together various technology to provide services simply isn’t effective. Connect with a partner whose solutions accommodate multiple types of services and care to deliver the best possible experience for individuals you serve and their families. If they cannot support your distinct community needs, then they’re not for you.

Reduce the HIPAA risk of paper

Pen and paper records, which are often stored in a client’s home, could become lost or end up in the wrong hands, which is scary. Add the risk of data integrity becoming compromised or associates collecting data differently from what the provider requests into the equation and you’ve got a formula for concern. Find the right technology that allows your staff to record and access vital visit information digitally for secure and instant access and say goodbye to bulky binders and loose paperwork.

Improve efficiency and communication between managers and staff

Go for a health IT solution that is easy-to-use and intuitive for the unique needs of autism services. Recording progress on paper or requesting paper records is neither time-efficient nor safe for sensitive data. Additionally, paper records create the potential for human error or delay in supervisory feedback. Going digital offers the opportunity to record data at the point of care and provide consistency and feedback in real time. Add mobility via a tablet or other mobile device along with both online and offline access and you’re good to go.

Enhance treatment planning and care coordination

Your solution should serve as a single-access point for data that serves as the single source of truth for an individual’s service plan and progress. Having a one-stop resource that gives a complete view of an individual can help improve your organization’s ability to provide well-rounded and complete services. It should have the ability to manage multiple areas of care or service lines and be agile enough to support additional services for individuals with multiple needs.

When it comes down to it, you need a solution that meets your organization’s varied needs. Having the right technology in place allows your organization to help those on the autism spectrum lead their best possible lives.

Want to learn more? Hear a real-life EHR experience as Easterseals of Southern California shares their story about adopting technology and how it has improved both the experience of their staff as well as the individuals they serve. Click here to watch Autism Services and The Technological Imperative on demand.