OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Metrocare Services and Netsmart have entered into an agreement that deeply integrates the two organizations to advance behavioral healthcare. As part of the agreement, Netsmart will serve as the technology solutions and services provider for all facets of Metrocare’s clinical operations.
Metrocare will utilize the Netsmart electronic health record (EHR) platform to accelerate its vision to innovate with technology strategies in behavioral health. The initiative will lead to Metrocare implementing the entire Netsmart suite of solutions to support mental health, substance use, intellectual/developmental disability, early childhood intervention and primary care programs across all of its clinic locations.
“We have a long history of investing and innovating with technologies of our own and this partnership with Netsmart will allow us to accelerate toward the goal of advancing our care models across Dallas County,” said Metrocare CEO Dr. John Burruss. “Metrocare has long believed that technology can and should be an enabler to our clinical services. We needed a partner who was willing and able to leverage our ability to play a role in ongoing innovations. We wanted a partner to be in the boat with us on the journey and Netsmart fits that model well.”
Three years ago, Metrocare created a software division called XenatiX to improve behavioral healthcare and research through the development of a modern, user-friendly EHR with advanced analytics. This partnership aligns the vision of XenatiX with Netsmart’s development plans and leverages the knowledge base of Metrocare’s IT development team. This will speed the pace of innovation so as to closely marry service delivery, data reporting, third party payment and research which will not only benefit Metrocare, but also many other behavioral health providers throughout the state of Texas and beyond.
As part of this partnership, Metrocare and Netsmart will fully integrate its teams to optimize clinical, financial and operational aspects of Metrocare; including IT outsourcing, hosting and managed services, advanced application support, revenue cycle management and strategic technology sourcing.
“This is a unique relationship in that we’ve created total alignment right out of the gate so that we both can go faster with our strategies and leverage technology to make healthcare delivery more efficient and cost effective,” said Netsmart CEO Mike Valentine. “Metrocare and Netsmart share an ‘innovation gene’ in our DNA. In this partnership, we are leveraging our strengths to create wins for both organizations. We are excited to get started.”
Netsmart offers a comprehensive EHR with role-based workflows to manage tasks such as consumer appointments, treatment plans, assessments and documentation requirements, while simultaneously providing an intuitive and user-specific experience. Agency defined alerts, to-do’s, and clinical quality indicators help ensure timely, compliant documentation and adherence to regulations. The EHR platform will also streamline all of the steps in the reimbursement cycle to maximize revenue, simplify communication with payers, enhance efficiency and drive profitability. In addition, the system is responsive to changing state and regulatory requirements.
“Netsmart’s solutions will help take our clinical and financial capabilities to the next level. Our providers will have ready access to information that has historically been challenging to come by,” said Burruss. “Access to Netsmart’s connectivity solutions will also allow us to achieve much deeper integration with the other health systems and physicians in the communities we serve which will allow the entire care team to have a ‘whole person’ view of the people they serve – which is a priority for Metrocare.”
“The requirements of doing business in Texas have always been unique and somewhat challenging. We have clients in all 50 states so we’re well-versed in the requirement of being agile and responsive to ever-changing local conditions and regulations. We’re very excited about the client base we are establishing in Texas and are committed to long-term success throughout the state,” said Valentine.
About Metrocare Services
Metrocare is the largest provider of mental health services in North Texas, serving more than 57,000 adults and children annually. For 50 years, Metrocare has provided an array of services including behavioral health services, primary care centers for adults and children, accessible pharmacies, housing and supportive social services. Through the Altshuler Center for Education & Research, we are advancing mental health beyond Dallas County. For more information, visit metrocareservices.org or follow @metrocare.
About Netsmart
Netsmart is an innovative healthcare technology provider that provides electronic health records (EHRs), health information exchange, data analytics, mobile clinical and consumer engagement solutions for behavioral health, social services and post-acute communities. Our common platform, the CareFabric®, integrates seamlessly with the industry’s first-of-its-kind population management platform that uniquely focuses on community-based providers and supports transitions of care, bundles and value-based payment models.
We are passionate about integrating care across all aspects of a community, which is why the Netsmart ecosystem provides more than an EHR by offering the largest national HIE in the post-acute community to connect post-acute, social services and behavioral health organizations with their health systems and community provider partners.
Our more than 560,000 users in more than 25,000 organizations across the U.S. work together with our more than 1,350 Netsmart associates to connect communities and information across the care spectrum. Our technology ensures comprehensive data flows between behavioral health; addiction treatment; intellectual and developmental disabilities; child and family services; public health; long-term/post-acute care; home health; hospice; palliative care; private duty and vital records, to ensure providers have consistent and reliable information at their fingertips when it is needed.
The only thing constant in healthcare is change. Netsmart brings significant expertise working with behavioral health, social services and post-acute care communities, as well as the complex state and federal billing requirements unique to these communities. More importantly, we understand the importance of clinical adoption; training and support; regulatory compliance; and the need to connect to the rest of healthcare.
Our solutions and services are built with these challenges in mind and are designed to solve them so our clients can focus on what they do best: provide quality care to their communities. Our clients are strong advocates for those who don’t always have a voice, which is why Netsmart is dedicated to leading change within the industry by breaking down barriers to provide a person-centric and holistic view of each individual.
Learn more about how Netsmart is changing the face of healthcare today. Visit www.ntst.com, call 1-800-472-5509, follow us on our CareThreads Blog, LinkedIn and Twitter, like us on Facebook or visit us on YouTube.
Netsmart is pleased to support the EveryDayMatters® Foundation, which was established for behavioral health, social services and post-acute organizations to learn from each other and share their causes and stories.