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August 13, 2020

The Covid-19 Pandemic is Affecting the Opioid Epidemic

Before the emergence of Covid-19, overdose deaths took an average of 130 American lives per day. Some estimate that the number has doubled over the past few months, as resources for people with substance use disorders have been diverted to deal with the immediate crisis of the pandemic. The lack of access to treatment has left many people vulnerable while isolation and socioeconomic stressors are at an all-time high. 

More Reasons To Relapse

Job loss, depression, and loneliness increase the likelihood that a person with a substance use disorder may be driven to relapse. People who are cut off from their support network by quarantine and stay-at-home orders are not getting the medical care they need. According to White House analysis, overdose deaths were up by 11.4% from January to April of this year when compared with the same period in 2019 when death rates were already at historically high levels. The outlook has only worsened since then, as the coronavirus continues to spread.

An Overwhelmed Medical Community

Some fear that hospitals are too busy dealing with Covid-19 patients to enroll overdose survivors into addiction treatment programs. Without a comprehensive follow-up plan, opioid abuse patients face a greater risk of relapse and overdose. This is especially true when you factor in the loss of continuity of treatment, and other potential struggles:

  • unpaid medical bills,
  • loss of insurance,
  • loss of employment,
  • a lack of support. 

Where do we go from here?

In a recent podcast, AMA President Patrice Harris acknowledged the pandemic has exacerbated the opioid epidemic and emphasized the need to eliminate treatment barriers. Recent regulatory changes have made it easier for healthcare providers to expand virtual care options like telehealth services. These new measures also offer more accessibility to the medications that patients need. We must ensure that all populations have equitable access to these treatment pathways, especially the marginalized populations who have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19. 

The medical community can do its part by educating more doctors around pain management, addiction treatment, and legitimizing addiction medicine. Providing addiction resources is more important than ever, especially during Covid-19. With proper planning and execution, this new infrastructure will continue to expand access to treatment, even when the pandemic is over. Making these proactive policy changes permanent will significantly aid those suffering from opioid addiction and substance use disorder.

Alleva offers telehealth solutions and supports behavioral health providers. Discover how Alleva can help you by scheduling a free demo today.  

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August 4, 2020

Lost Connections in a Digital World

Even before the spread of COVID-19 forced millions of people around the world to isolate, the decline of human contact in our digital world was taking a toll. In the great debate about the merits and difficulties of a world dependent on technology, the jury is still out. 

In some ways, we may fault technology for our culture’s rampant obsession with status, or the resulting depression and even addiction in the younger generations. In other ways, we praise it for making our lives easier, for making information available to the masses, and for its ability to connect us with others across the globe.  

While we may agree with the risks of allowing technology such a vital place in our lives, we have all, in some way or another, cosigned the idea that through technology, we can improve how we communicate and connect with each other. Some technology, like video conferencing, brings people together and breaks through the barriers of isolation.

The Need for Human Connection

Since the dawn of humanity, we have needed connection with others of our kind, just as much as we needed food, water, or shelter. This is because, in many ways, banding together was our ticket to successfully meeting all other needs. As evidenced by early cave drawings all the way to today’s obsession with social media, we’ve long felt convinced of our need to communicate important messages, share about dangers on the horizon and even to celebrate successes with one another. Although the medium has changed over time, the fundamental service that these platforms appear to provide remains the same.

In the years since those early attempts at human connection, our society was on a path towards individualism, and as a whole becoming lonelier and more and more isolated from one another. Tricked time and time again by a consumerist mindset that told us that we are always “only 3 easy payments of $19.99” away from happiness, we’ve continually failed to learn our lesson. With the advent of the internet, we fared no better. 

In his poignant discussion of the root causes of depression, Johann Hari points out that we are drawn to these manufactured forms of connection because at first, we believe that they are the real thing.  However, no matter the number of emoji’s, gifs, or iMessages sent with special effects, communication online fails to measure up to the real thing, and only leaves us clamoring for our next ‘fix’. 

“Only through our connectedness to others can we really know and enhance the self. And only through working on the self can we begin to enhance our connectedness to others.” ― Harriet Lerner

What Does This Mean for Clinicians?

Recent research reveals that the average person checks their phone 96 times per day or roughly every 10 minutes, and spend nearly half their day listening to, watching, reading, or otherwise consuming media. The Behavioral Health Industry is not immune to these societal changes.  Although the therapy room may be one of the last frontiers where two individuals connect with one another for an extended length of time, uninterrupted, the battle for such a structure and even mandates for concurrent documentation appears to threaten this practice. 

In some ways, clinicians are expected to provide a remedy for this lack of human connection, as well as a model for the path forward. It is crucial to this task to consider both the role of technology in both fostering and hindering human connection, and to discover the balance between consuming the content available to us and engaging with the people in front of us. 

True, because of technology, we are aided in our ability to get tasks done more quickly and connect with others across the globe, but we must not neglect our connection to the natural world. For many reasons, this is why wilderness therapy has been so successful, in that it helps you retain your connection with the world around you. 

Partnering with Alleva

At this time in history, we are navigating two worlds: the physical and the virtual. It is altogether vital to remember which one fosters true, fulfilling, human connection, and that which is only masquerading as such.  Technology is important, but only when we remember its true purpose, to aid the lives of those behind the screen. 

At Alleva, we are all about harnessing technology that helps you get back to what you do best- providing authentic, in-the-moment care. From our intuitive design and easy-to-use templates, with HIPAA-compliant communication logs, and tasks and notifications all in one place, spend less time stressing out over the tediousness of record management and invest your time instead back to the clients who have sought you out for treatment. 

Quickly access and edit client notes, create individualized treatment plans based on Wiley Treatment Planners best practices, and assign the corresponding homework. With Alleva, you are able to deliver the same high-quality, individualized treatment that your clients have come to expect. Have your technology work for you, not the other way around. Less headache, more connection. 

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June 16, 2020

NATSAP Now Requires Accreditation From Members

NATSAP, an organization of therapeutic centers and programs, has announced that it will be requiring all of its members to be accredited. 

So, what does this mean for you? What is accreditation, and how can you obtain it? We’ve prepared a short guide explaining the change and how you can stay one step ahead of the curve. 

NATSAP’s New Decision

The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, or NATSAP, was created in 1999 as a resource available throughout the United States for programs and centers helping young people with behavioral and emotional burdens. 

Currently, NATSAP serves only as a resource and not as an organization that checks for compliance. Therefore, in order to improve the quality of the programs that boast NATSAP membership, the board voted in October to make all members follow accreditation procedures.

Fortunately, your center has three years to obtain accreditation: the deadline is January 1st, 2023. Furthermore, NATSAP has committed to helping organizations gain the accreditation they need. They have samples of policies that satisfy accreditation criteria and mentoring programs to help newer organizations navigate accreditation. Of course, you have to be a member of NATSAP to obtain these resources. 

According to NATSAP, accreditation can be obtained by any of the following groups:

Here at Alleva, we have recommended CARF and the Joint Commission for accreditation purposes. Both are excellent choices for your accreditation needs, but their requirements are somewhat different. Our advice is to learn about both in order to pick the one that works best for you. 

Accreditation & Why It Matters

Why is NATSAP suddenly requiring accreditation? The truth is, this has been in the works for some time. As an organization devoted to therapeutic programs and centers, best practices often require rigorous enforcing of evidence-based procedures. If you’re accredited, it means that your program or center has been deemed satisfactory to provide the treatments you offer. 

For this reason, accreditation often cultivates safety and efficacy. By making all members accredited, NATSAP gains more credibility and authority when it comes to advocating for centers and programs like yours. 

However, you may find yourself wondering: is accreditation worth it?

Accreditation does take some work, but the end result is powerful. Not only does it force you to take a look at how your organization is running, but it puts you in the shoes of your patients. By doing so, you are taking a personal approach to your treatments, and you are getting first-hand experience of what your patients are going through so you can provide the best quality service you are able to offer. 

Promoting your accreditation status also has benefits outside of the treatment you offer. It immediately strengthens confidence in your center and your programs because they have been vetted by trusted organizations, and it also provides a boost in your marketing since you can boast accreditation that another facility may not have. 

Smaller benefits include improving risk management, a reduction in liability insurance, continued support from your accreditation organization, and improved recruitment efforts, since employees always want to work at more respected organizations and accreditation is one way of gaining respect in the industry. 

"Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives."

WILLIAM A. FOSTER

Before applying, our advice is to do as much research as you can on the process and which accreditation body you would prefer to work with. 

Once you have reviewed the requirements for accreditation, analyze your center and programs yourself in order to discover the areas where you may need improvement. Go through the process internally and involve your staff, making sure everyone is aware of the caliber of service you need to offer to obtain accreditation. 

Once you have discovered some potential areas for improvement, make a plan or systematized effort to implement changes, and decide when these need to be completed by. The survey by the accreditation body can take up to one year to be scheduled, so you may have some extra time, but ideally, you would start diagnosing your program as soon as possible. 

One of the benefits of working with an accreditation body is that they provide feedback from a perspective of experience and guidance. They want to help, and you can collaborate with them to designate areas for improvement and implementation suggestions. 

How Alleva Helps With Accreditation

Alleva can help with accreditation in numerous ways. To start, Alleva can help you digitize forms, which leads to less lost paperwork and prepares you for compliance checks. 

By digitizing your practice, you gain our expertise and digital tools that will grow and change with your program in an industry that is constantly evolving. Not to mention—we have extensive experience helping clients through the accreditation process. Everything, including accreditation, is easier when it’s digitized and organized.

 If you want to learn more about Alleva, request a demo today and see what we can do to help.

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April 27, 2020

The Ins and Outs of the FCC’s $200 Million COVID-19 Telehealth Program – What does it mean for your Addiction Treatment Facility?

The Ins and Outs of the FCC’s $200 Million COVID-19 Telehealth Program

As part of the government’s recent measures to curb the economic crisis brought in by the spread of COVID-19, lawmakers recently signed a bill called the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which contains numerous programs created to offer assistance for industries affected by the pandemic. 

One of these plans, the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, was recently adopted by the Federal Trade Commission (FCC), and it includes a $200 million financial package meant to support care providers who are following the social distancing guidelines. The goal is to help healthcare providers purchase telehealth and IT services to successfully treat patients virtually. 

As of April 13, eligible healthcare providers can request assistance from the FCC to help fund their newly acquired telehealth needs. Many have already taken advantage of the program; the FFC awarded $1 million to Ochsner Clinic Foundation, in New Orleans, Louisiana for telehealth-related services. 

Read below to learn more about how you can apply for telehealth assistance today.

What Does the Program Entail?

During a crisis any assistance is welcome, but the details of the program matter. The more informed you are about the Telehealth Program, the better equipped you’ll be to shift your practice towards a virtual approach. 

The FCC has selected a number of covered expenses related to telehealth services, which include:The Telehealth Program does NOT include funding for the following:
Telecommunication Services: Voice communication services for providers or patients
Information Services: Internet connectivity services for providers or patients, remote patient monitoring technology, patient outcomes reporting technology, video conferencing services
Necessary Devices/Equipment: Tablets, smart phones, remote patient monitoring equipment for patient or provider use		Staffing Costs: IT personnel and administrative/training costs are not included in the relief package
Websites: The Telehealth Program is not intended to fund the development or creation of new websites, systems, or platforms
Unconnected Devices: Devices that patients use at home and then manually report the results to their medical professional are not covered

Quick Facts

  • This is not a grant; Applicants receive reimbursement for eligible expenses and services. More details about compliance on the FCC website.
  • Retroactive costs are eligible for funding up to March 13, 2020.
  • There is currently no deadline for applications, and they are being accepted on a rolling basis. 

Eligibility

Now that you know what the program entails, the next question revolves around eligibility. How do you know if you qualify for assistance? 

Eligibility in this instance is two-tiered. You need to qualify through both categories in order to receive assistance. Without making this more complicated than it should be, let’s review the requirements for each level of eligibility.

Eligible to Receive Funding

This is the first category of eligibility. Please note: being eligible to receive funding doesn’t necessarily mean you are eligible to participate in the new Telehealth Program. It is simply the first step toward determining your eligibility.

The Telehealth Program follows the rules set in place by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which only includes nonprofit and public healthcare providers from the following categories:

  • Local health departments/agencies
  • Teaching hospitals, medical schools, and post-secondary organizations that offer health care instruction
  • Rural health clinics
  • Community health centers or health centers that provide health care to migrants
  • Community mental health centers
  • Not-for-profit hospitals 
  • Skilled nursing facilities 

Along with falling under one of these categories, you must also be registered with the federal System for Award Management (SAM) to receive COVID-19 Telehealth Program funding. If you are already registered, then you can simply move on to the next eligibility tier. 

If you have not yet registered, go to their online system and make sure you have the following information at hand:

  • DUNS number
  • Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) or Employment Identification Number (EIN)
  • Bank account information (routing, account number, account type)

While you can still submit an application if you are not yet registered with SAM, we recommend registering as soon as you can because it can take up to eleven business days for your registration to go through. 

Eligibility to Participate in the Program

On to the next step: verifying your eligibility to participate. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), a non-profit that aims to make internet connectivity accessible, affordable, and pervasive, is the organizing body tasked with determining the eligibility of healthcare providers for funding. 

Yes, it’s another form you have to fill out. You can apply on USAC’s portal, where they can notify you of any changes in your application process, or you can email Form 460 to RHC-Assist@usac.org.

Just a heads up—if your organization has separate sites, each site will have to apply separately for eligibility from the USAC (if they are seeking assistance through the Telehealth Program).

Once again, you do not have to wait to receive your eligibility determination from the USAC to apply. However, you will not be able to receive any funding until the USAC determines you are eligible. Our advice is to complete your application as soon as you can because needs are urgent and the funds are limited. 

Application Process

If you’ve made it this far, nice job! You’re almost there. The first step toward submitting your application is registering with CORES to obtain an FCC Registration Number (FRN). 

Go here to set up your CORES account. Once you submit your registration, you’ll receive your FRN. If you’re not sure whether you already have an FRN, you can go to CORES, search for your name, TIN, or other contact-related information, and you’ll be able to find it there. 

Once you’ve received your FRN, you are ready to apply! The COVID-19 Telehealth Program application is right here. 

Which Applications Will Be Approved?

Every healthcare provider applying for assistance is anxious to know how the FCC will evaluate applications. Keep in mind, that the FCC has a set of goals and objectives it wants the Telehealth Program to achieve, so these will be a top priority. One of these priorities is to support areas that have been affected heavily by COVID-19. 

Along with these goals, the FCC will also take into account the conditions to be treated, geographic areas and population served by the applicant, whether or not the area has been suffering from shortages or closures, and what type of access the community has to broadband connections. 

Ideally, the $200 million financial packages will be used efficiently, so another factor to keep in mind is the metrics which the applicant will use to measure the impact of the services and devices provided by the program. If you can demonstrate that you will be using the funding for specific and necessary purposes and that you have the ability to monitor and enforce correct use, you will be much better off. 

Final Checklist

Make sure you run through these steps in the following order. If you’ve already completed a step, move to the next one.

  1. Make sure you will be using the funds for covered expenses
  2. Make sure your organization falls under the covered categories
  3. Register with SAM
  4. Register with USAC (alternatively, submit Form 460 via email here)
  5. Apply on USAC Portal or submit 
  6. Set up your CORES account and obtain your FRN
  7. Complete your application

Still Stuck?

The FCC has several resources to help you apply for assistance. 

Alleva Can Help During COVID-19

Hopefully, we were able to synthesize the information and make it easier to understand. There are a lot of moving parts, and it’s important to stay informed in order to make sure the COVID-19 Telehealth Program funding is used properly and effectively. 

At Alleva, we are here to help the helpers, those who are essential in moments like these, and who need help taking medical care to a virtual atmosphere. Due to the pandemic, a lot of telehealth services have not been able to acclimate properly with the surge in demand. We have specialized in offering user-friendly Telehealth platforms that aim to cultivate virtual connections between provider and patient.

If you are a healthcare provider and you need help transitioning to an online or virtual treatment system, we can provide the assistance you need while simultaneously making compliance and organization easier.

Request a free demo today and spend more time serving those in your care.

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April 17, 2020

Harnessing Technology for Good: Most Important Therapy Apps

It has long been a challenge for those in the substance abuse and mental health professions to get their clients to engage in treatment in the time between sessions, or for those in a residential facility, to keep them on the right track after discharge. Especially in the wake of COVID-19, clinicians are searching for ways to help their clients seek and access the resources available to them at home. 

While on some levels, technology can seem to lead us to disconnect from others in favor of virtual versions of ourselves, it also presents us with innumerable supportive resources to assist clients with taking ownership of the recovery process, while dedicating time and attention to caring for themselves on a mental, emotional, and physical level. 

The following is a summary of four types of apps that can be helpful resources for your clients, while in therapy and long after.

Meditation Apps

Mindfulness and meditation are taught in therapy as a means of connecting clients to internal resources to harness healing outside of the session. 

An integral part of meditation is eliminating and/or directing awareness away from distractions. Meditation apps do this wonderfully by changing technology from a distraction into a tool. By facilitating meditation practices and activities, meditation apps also increase the self-efficacy of clients and confidence in their mental awareness. 

The following are meditation apps available today:

Insight Timer- Insight Timer offers the unique experience of several forms of guided meditations for various needs. Music, guided imagery, and muscle relaxation are some of the few forms of meditations available on the app.

10 Percent Happier- 10 Percent Happier is a wonderful app for those who are new to mediation. Courses and coaches set this app apart from more independent meditation apps. 

Reading Apps

Bibliotherapy refers to the use of literature in the healing process of counseling or therapy. Some therapists prefer to assign materials for clients to read based on treatment goals. However, some may encourage clients to simply explore as they feel comfortable, as for the ever-anxious, picking up a fantasy fiction novel may be the perfect distraction to get them out of their heads for a while. 

In addition to Audible or Kindle, consider some additional reading apps for use in your therapeutic process:

OverDrive- The OverDrive app offers app users the chance to connect with local libraries in order to browse and read any of the volumes available nearby, in addition to the books on file with OverDrive. 

Nook app- The Nook reading app from Barnes & Noble offers a large selection of literature spanning multiple genres.

Sleep Apps

Research on sleep hygiene and its connection to mental health and wellness is growing rapidly. In fact, a routine question in mental health services intakes is: “how many hours of sleep do you get on average?” 

Sleep apps are available to promote proper sleep hygiene by helping clients set alarms for sleep and wake times, tracking REM (deep sleep) cycles, noting restless periods of sleep, prompting appropriate times to turn off lights and technology, and offering music to assist with falling asleep. 

The following are a few sleep apps available to assist you with establishing and maintaining important sleep hygiene habits:

Slumber- The Slumber app uses both meditations and music to assist app users to attain restful sleep. Some of the “techniques” available on the app include: “mindfulness, breath control, guided imagery, and progressive muscle relaxation.”

Sleep Cycle- The Sleep Cycle app is an innovative app created to tailor the morning alarm to your stages of sleep. The app maintains a record of your sleep cycles and uses this information to wake you in the lightest stage of sleep. Thus you’ll wake feeling rested, rather than the alternative where you’re abruptly pulled from a deep sleep.

Time Management Apps

             Depending on the presenting concerns of clients, time management may be a targeted skill in therapy. While this may not appear to be a primary issue, learning and embracing effective time management can contribute to reduced stress and anxiety. 

Counselors and clients alike find it helpful to tackle some of the practical issues with daily life before diving deeper into the therapeutic process. Time management apps, much like personal assistants, are available to provide a central place to track the important events and tasks in life while allotting time for self-care. 

Below are a few current time management apps to assist with organizing and following through with life tasks to promote healthy efficiency:

MyLifeOrganized- My Life Organized is a time management platform offering users tools for prioritizing tasks in a daily planner and various formats. This app encourages optimizing your time by helping you manage the tasks entered and organized in the app.

Remember The Milk-Remember the Milk is an application designed to help keep track of the tasks and appointments in life that may slip by.  This app is designed to “get to-dos out of your head” to reduce stress and increase concentration on the tasks you want to prioritize.

An App for You: Alleva

After helping your clients find and access apps that are supportive of their recovery, try one of your own: Introducing Alleva, the friendliest EMR platform around. Alleva not only has a client app meant to keep clients connected during and aftercare, but you will also be able to easily send out text surveys and have access to the latest in telehealth technology. 

Speaking of time-management skills, Alleva’s built-in, real-time alerts will also remind staff to dot I's and cross T's to ensure compliance. Alleva is the perfect example of harnessing technology that allows you to spend more time where your heart is -serving those in your care. Request a demo today.

April 14, 2020

What has Compliance Become?

What has Compliance Become? 

Last month we posted an article that detailed one aspect of the role that compliance specialists play in many behavioral health organizations. While that article focused on the tenuous relationship they often have with the clinicians on staff, it’s true that the compliance specialists’ role is meant to achieve much more than just a title as “stickler” or “perfectionist” by their coworkers. 

Goals of Compliance

For those who are unaware, the compliance department works not only as a way to meet regulatory demands by accrediting bodies such as CARF or The Joint Commission, but also functions as an added layer to protect against fraud, waste, abuse, or misconduct by staff members, or the agency as a whole. This type of work is the heartbeat of any organization that is concerned about its influence in the community and can truly impact the lives of your patients, their families, and all those they come in contact with, as well as your staff.

In the state of this industry, which is rife with ethical complaints, court cases, and legal battles, it is of utmost importance to have a proactive compliance department and to create policies and practices that are more preventative in nature. Often, compliance departments and programs are engineered, per Medicaid regulations, with a few specific aims:

  1. To create and have accessible written policies, procedures, and standards of conduct that comply with all applicable Federal and State requirements.
  2. To designate a Compliance Officer who is responsible for developing and implementing policies and practices and to establish a Regulatory Compliance Committee that is equally accountable to senior management. 
  3. To design a system for training and education for all levels of employees and positions.
  4. To establish effective lines of communication between the compliance officer and the organization's employees.
  5. To enforce standards through well-publicized disciplinary guidelines.
  6. To create procedures within a system of dedicated staff for routine internal monitoring and auditing of compliance risks, prompt response to compliance issues as they are raised, investigation and correction of potential or identified problems promptly and thoroughly in order to maintain ongoing compliance.

Is it Working?

Although these may represent the intentions behind the role of compliance, often still the felt experience of many clinicians is that those reviewing their work are simply lying in wait, excitedly correcting spelling errors or pointing out what seems like insignificant mistakes. They may think that compliance specialists find great joy and their life’s purpose in pointing out when dates or times don’t match up, or when the metaphorical I’s and T’s need dotting and crossing. 

In many ways, this feels like what compliance has become, a shift in focus from pursuing agency standards to simply watching out for any clerical errors. 

At times this appears to be a byproduct of an antiquated way of working together, still relying on paper and pen methods or printing copies, working off of forms that are always needing an update or forgetting to use the most updated version, and just generally not having tools that are actually serving effective documentation practices. Compliance specialists would likely agree that it is not their intention to prioritize these concerns, however, without the tools that make these a non-issue, or at least an easier issue to correct, they end up spending a significant portion of their time and energy on these menial corrections. 

Another concern that occurs down the line, is that although you may have taken great care to create policies, practices, and procedures to ensure compliance, when is the last time a staff member read and used their policy manual? Are the lines of communication between the compliance officer and employees more theoretical in nature? How is ongoing education and training implemented into organizational practice? What are the messages, if any, that you are sending to your employees about compliance? 

When You Partner with Alleva

With Alleva, our model has always been to provide you with the tools needed, so that you can get back to what you do best, compliance department notwithstanding. When you digitize your practice with Alleva, we make it easy to focus on the important things: like pushing yourself to be your best for your community that deserves it. 

Free up your clinician’s time by avoiding repetitive data entry, and make accessing agency policies and procedures a breeze. Allow your compliance specialists to focus on less trivial tasks, with built-in automated auditing and compliance features, and create a work environment that thrives on mutual respect, community, and a drive to pursue excellence. When you partner with the friendliest EMR platform around, you can make your humdrum, routine tasks easy to accomplish. To request a demo, schedule with us today!

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February 4, 2020

A Guide To The Joint Commission: What is it and why does it matter?

What is The Joint Commission?

The Joint Commission, previously known as The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations or JCAHO, is a nonprofit 501(c) that since 1951 has led the way in accreditation for healthcare organizations in the states and worldwide. 

Although The Joint Commission’s predecessor was focused on hospital care, for more than 50 years, they have operated in the realm of behavioral health, helping organizations understand and adhere to their standards. This aligns with the vision of the company to improve and enhance the quality and safety of healthcare delivery. 

The official mission of The Joint Commission is described as follows:

“To continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.”

The Joint Commission provides a service to the public, by establishing standards of practice, and reviewing and vetting organizations that have risen to meet them. Accreditation can be earned by organizations across the spectrum of health care, whether it is a hospital or doctor’s office setting, or a behavioral health treatment facility.

Those who seek accreditation through The Joint Commission will receive practical support and counsel through education on the standards before and during the on-site survey, as well as supplementary tools such as The Leading Practice Library or Targeted Solutions Tools. The latter is comprised of interactive web-based tools that offer a means of performance measurement to organizations that seek them out, along with customizable solutions. 

Those who pass the on-site survey are rewarded with a golden seal of approval and awarded accreditation status for three years. Through this process, organizations learn performance-improvement strategies to address issues of safety and improve the quality of care, reducing the risk of errors and subsequently, the cost of liability insurance coverage.

Why Pursue Accreditation?

While the coveted gold seal of approval is a much sought-after prize, at the outset of any journey to accreditation, obtaining it may appear to be a daunting and intimidating task. It is not uncommon to wonder whether it is worth it or not to venture on such a laborious undertaking. However, there are many reasons to consider that may shift the direction of your thoughts. 

  • Helps organize and strengthen efforts to improve patient safety
    Strengthens confidence in the quality and safety of the care, treatment, and services you provide to the community 
  • Provides a marketing advantage and a competitive edge in a competitive health care environment and improves your ability to secure new business
  • Improves risk management and risk reduction by focusing on performance-improvement strategies, that ultimately can reduce the risk of error or low-quality care
  • May reduce liability insurance costs by demonstrating attention to areas of needed improvement
  • Provides continuing support and education services through Joint Commission Resources® (JCR®) and The Targeted Solutions Tool®
  • Provides a customized, intensive review that will help identify areas of needed growth
  • The team of Joint Commission Surveyors offers professional advice and counsel, and education services to staff members during the on-site survey
  • Enhances staff recruitment and development, attracting qualified personnel, and providing opportunities for staff to develop their skills and knowledge
  • For some organizations, reduces the burden of duplicative federal and state surveys as it may fulfill regulatory requirements in some states and allow organizations to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid certification without undergoing a separate government quality inspection 
  • Provides a framework for organizational structure and management and provides guidance to an organization’s quality improvement efforts.

What’s the Difference Between The Joint Commission and CARF?

In the world of behavioral health, there are two big names in the accreditation industry, The Joint Commission and CARF International, or formally, The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.

While they perform the same task, the primary difference between them is their individual collection of standards by which they evaluate the organizations applying for accreditation. 

In order to see what’s required by each accrediting body, contact the companies directly, as both CARF and The Joint Commission will allow free access to their standards for a limited time (3-6 months) and have manuals available for purchase. (The Joint Commission provides free access once an organization has officially applied)

Some additional differences between the agencies:

  • The Joint Commission is more medically-based, while CARF is more active in the healthcare market
  • They may have differing preferential relationships with third-party funders including states and insurance companies
  • Accreditation fees vary between the bodies, typically based on the size of the organization seeking accreditation. An estimate can be easily obtained by contacting them directly. 
  • Depending on your accreditation needs, whether you are looking to accredit the entire organization or just specific programs, you’ll want to seek out  CARF, which allows for one program’s accreditation at a time, or The Joint Commission accordingly.

Why Choose The Joint Commission?

The Joint Commission has over 65 years of experience, has accredited over 22,000 organizations during their tenure, and brings all of that experience to you when you join them on an accreditation journey. 

For years, they have led the way to shape best practices in the industry and establish the most rigorous performance standards, earning their place as one of the most respected names in health care. In working with these thousands of agencies, they know what works and what doesn’t, and offer their expert perspective when you’re making important decisions about the structure of your organization and treatment practices. 

During the review process, you will be matched with a team of experienced surveyors based on their background and your organization’s needs. Through collaboration and communication, they aim to provide the support needed to navigate this journey, along with practical tools and resources to help you maintain excellence even after accreditation.

What is the Accreditation Process?

Initial steps in the accreditation process begin with learning as much as you can about the accreditation process, both by reading articles by third-party reviewers or accreditation experts, visiting and reviewing the many resources available to you on The Joint Commission website, and contacting them to request free online access, to review their standards and requirements directly. 

Once you’ve chosen to pursue accreditation through The Joint Commission and confirmed your eligibility, the next focus will be conducting an internal review, identifying areas of focus, and aligning your practice to meet standards as described in the manual. During this time, you will have access to a number of tools and experts to question and fully understand the standards and their implementation. 

In order to officially apply and decide upon a survey date, the following steps are recommended:

  1. After reviewing the requirements, conduct an analysis to see where there are gaps in your performance. Document and target these areas. 
  2. Schedule and conduct a mock survey, with your staff if possible. Consider your service delivery from the vantage point of one of the individuals you serve and walk throughout the entire process. 
  3. Develop a timetable to implement changes to areas identified in Step 1. Breaking up large tasks into smaller ones with their own completion date can be helpful in settling on a readiness date for your on-site survey. 

Once your survey is scheduled (up to one year from the application date), spend the rest of your time preparing for the visit from the surveyors. As they undergo the comprehensive review, you will be able to borrow from their perspective and feedback and know where you stand. Drawing from their collaborative approach, they may identify areas for improvement, and suggestions for implementation along the way.

Scoring and The SAFER Matrix

When it comes to the scoring and decision-making process, The Joint Commission takes seriously its mission to hold organizations to a higher standard, especially as it relates to the quality and safety of patient care. 

Requirements for Improvement (RFIs) are scored based on the criticality of the standards, the likelihood of the issue to cause harm, as well as how widespread the problem is. The visual representation on which all RFIs are represented is the SAFER Matrix and is based on the surveyor’s observations. This allows surveyors to perform the on-site evaluations of deficiencies, and denote the timeline for compliance.

  • Accurate and Reflective of an organization’s performance 
  • Transparent and Easily Understood- The Joint Commission wants to ensure that all applicants are fully aware of each step of the process
  • Graded Based on Impact- Some standards are “critical,” or have a more direct effect of the patient than others

The hallmark principles for this process rely on the results to be: 

How Does Alleva Help You Achieve Joint Accreditation Status?

Alleva can help you to elevate your practice no matter if you are considering accreditation from The Joint Commission, CARF, or are not quite ready to make the jump towards either. Whether you’re just beginning the process, have decided to wait to get started, or have been accredited for years, when you partner with Alleva, you will have access to all the tools and software that will grow with you, and this constantly updating industry.

With Alleva, you can get back to doing what you do best. You’ll save yourself the headache of lost forms, the tediousness of compliance checks, and endless paperwork fatigue. When you digitize your practice with Alleva, rest soundly knowing that when you’re ready, we have continued success helping our clients obtain The Joint Commission accreditation.  If you want to learn more about how Alleva can work for you, visit our home page, and request a demo today!

June 5, 2017

5 Major Drug Use Policy and Advocacy Groups

Drug advocacy groups are important to the mission we all share: to save lives through recovery. These groups are making incredible progress in increasing public awareness and improving policies on advocacy about drugs. Advocacy groups often stem from personal tragedies.

1.     Shatterproof: Stronger Than Addiction

    • Slogan: Prevention works. Treatment is effective. Recovery is possible for everyone.
    • About Shatterproof: Shatterproof was started by Gary Mendell, a father who lost his son Brian to the disease of addiction in 2011. Gary says, “Research exists that could have saved Brian and countless others like him. But is not being implemented throughout communities and healthcare system.” Shatterproof has organized the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Task Force, whose mission is “to fundamentally improve substance use disorder treatment in the United States, in terms of both quality and patient outcomes.”
    • Shatterproof is a family-based organization that educates and unites families. Their stories can be found on their website. They also share information, advocate for policy change, and raise funds.

2.     Drug Policy Alliance

    • Mission: To advance those policies and attitudes that best reduce the harms of both drug use and drug prohibition and to promote the sovereignty of individuals over their minds and bodies.
    • About: The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is one of the nation's leading advocacy groups promoting drug policies that are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights. Our supporters are individuals who believe the war on drugs is doing more harm than good. Together we advance policies that reduce the harms of both drug use and drug prohibition and seek solutions that promote safety while upholding the sovereignty of individuals over their own minds and bodies. We work to ensure that our nation’s drug policies no longer arrest, incarcerate, disenfranchise, and otherwise harm millions – particularly young people and people of color who are disproportionately affected by the war on drugs.
    • DPA is actively involved in the legislative processes in many states. Their current issues of focus include reform of marijuana laws, Good Samaritan Laws, race and drug use, needle exchange programs, and many others.

    • The DPA is the leading organization in the U.S promoting alternatives to the war on drugs. They are currently prioritizing, decriminalizing drugs and building health-based alternatives, uprooting the drug war from civil systems, disempowering police in drug enforcement and response, reducing punishments for people in the drug trade, reinvesting drug war rescues into communities most harmed, and eliminating the poison drug supply through responsible legal regulation of all drugs 

3.     To Write Love on Her Arms

  • Vision: The vision is that community, hope, and help would replace secrets and silence.
  • About: To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) is a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and invest directly in treatment and recovery.
  • TWLOHA is a support community that raises funds and organizes charity donations that are aimed at engaging communities and connecting individuals to the help they deserve.
  • Events: TWLOHA is backed by Warped Tour, an annual nationwide concert series held in the summer.
  • About To Write Love on Her Arms: To Write Love on Her Arms was founded by Jamie Tworkowski. One of Jamies best friends struggled with addiction, depression, self-injury, and suicidal thoughts. “All he wanted to do was help a friend and tell her story.” -They believe you were created to love and be loved, people need other people, your story is important, better days are ahead, and hope and help are real. 

4.     The Brent Shapiro Foundation: Making the world a better place for all. 

    • Goal: Our goal is to turn the fear, helplessness & grief caused by this disease into a powerful force of hope & healing.
    • About: Founded upon personal tragedy, it is our vision to conquer alcohol and drug dependence by turning the fear, grief, and helplessness caused by this disease into awareness, compassion, and support. It is the mission of the Brent Shapiro Foundation for Alcohol and Drug Awareness to become the national leader in the fight against drug and alcohol dependence by:
      • Raising awareness through education
      • Removing the stigma and isolation associated with this disease by inviting everyone to join in a national dialogue
      • Providing support to parents on how to communicate with their children and with other parents about alcohol and drugs
      • Creating educational tools designed to help parents, teachers, and communities to identify, when necessary, to intervene with those as high-risk.
      • It is our belief that the solution lies in a new, different, and fresh approach. We intend to use a simple model for educating parents, teachers, children, and communities about this disease.
      • We believe that increasing awareness is the first step to change – change the way this disease is viewed, change the way it is identified and prevented, and change the way people who have this disease are viewed by society.
    • This organization was started by Robert and Linell Shapiro in honor of their son Brent who passed away in 2005 from addiction. Partnering with the Variety Boys and Girls Club, the Brent Shapiro Foundation seeks to educate, advocate, and support youth and parents.

5.     Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Institute for Recovery Advocacy

    • Getting involved in the fight against addiction and for recovery.
    • Mission: Provide a trusted national voice on all issues related to addiction prevention, treatment and recovery and to facilitate conversation among those in recovery, those still suffering and society at large. We are committed to smashing stigma, shaping public policy, and educating people everywhere about the problems of addiction and the promise of recovery.

    • This foundation educates the public and policymakers about substance use disorders and recovery, shape public policy, and transforms stigma into compassion. 

    • The advocacy institute’s top priorities are expanding access to addiction care, public education and dismantling the stigma associated with addiction. This is another advocacy group that works aggressively to reform drug policies that will address the nation’s opioid addiction crisis.

ABOUT ALLEVA:

Alleva is comprised of a talented group of individuals dedicated to providing world-class software to the behavioral health industry that offers premium care to those who need it. Our team includes licensed therapists, industry professionals, and experienced software developers who are passionate about helping the helpers. To learn more about what we do, click here.

May 17, 2017

IBM Watson- Relapse Reduction

IBM Watson recently joined forces with MAP Health Management to fight substance abuse in the U.S. The partnership will focus on relapse reduction.

Over 22.5 million Americans are caught in the snare of addiction, and of those, only 2.6 million are receiving treatment. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that the economic cost of substance abuse--related to crime, lost work productivity and health care--is near $700 billion. In 2015, opioid abuse claimed more American lives than car crashes and gun homicides combined.

Jacob Levenson, CEO of MAP, described addiction as the "great crisis of our time." He reported that the current method of "assessing, treating and paying for … care isn't sustainable." He believes that using "advanced cognitive technology" like Watson, will improve treatment decisions, leading to improved long-term management for those suffering.

Aetna Behavioral Health is planning to use MAP's system to predict substance abuse relapses. The goal is to gather and analyze patient data in order to create long-term strategies to help patients reach and stay in recovery through relapse reduction.

Read here to learn more about technology in addiction recovery.

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Copyright 2019 - Alleva Corp. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2019 - Alleva Corp. All Rights Reserved.