Approaches to virtual care in underserved communities and settings: Bridging the behavioral health-care gap

Abstract

Today's information age employs technologies to access, disseminate, and analyze information. Clinical informatics is a rapidly expanding area with the goal of facilitating patient-centered care (PCC) as defined by high-quality, affordable, and timely health care by improving access to and linkage of health information. This chapter covers developments in information systems, electronic health records (EHRs), electronic communications with patients and staff, behavioral health (BH) indicators, and related digital advances to improve practice and research. The reader can learn how to set goals toward achieving quality outcomes, be efficient while remaining patient centered using emerging technologies, and adapt various technological components to align with diverse systems and contexts. By grasping how systems are designed and tailored to collect data, providers can use technology to inform decisions and facilitate efforts to improve outcomes. Setting priorities involves input from all participants and stakeholders in the provision of behavioral health care. Patient, provider, and institutional competencies for skills, attitudes, and behaviors need to align patient care, training, and administrative missions in order to stimulate quality improvement.