State-of-the-art System Will Improve Coordination and Services
for People Served in Westchester County
In an on-going effort to improve access, services and systemic coordination for people with behavioral health needs in Westchester County, the Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) is launching a state-of-the-art comprehensive behavioral electronic health record (EHR) system. The new system will allow easy entry and updating of data, and for the first time, will connect all three systems of care (mental health, addiction and intellectual/developmental disabilities) to allow for better response and service coordination.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “Part of fulfilling our responsibility to the people we serve is ensuring that our systems of care operate effectively, and efficiently. By implementing this comprehensive EHR for our Department of Community Mental Health, we are ensuring that we can fully identify an individual’s needs and care history, and support them in the best ways possible.”
Commissioner of DCMH Michael Orth said: “Having been with DCMH for 30 years, I can say that this new system will introduce a sea change for how we work to connect and meet the needs of the people we serve. We are creating a system that will grow with us and the services we provide, allowing us to better assist the people of Westchester with their needs for years into the future.”
Commissioner of the Department of Information Technology Marguerite Beirne said: “DoIT understands the critical role we play in helping to provide necessary services to the people of Westchester County. This new system will enable DCMH to care for people with behavioral health needs more efficiently, and effectively.”
The result of a year-long effort in the Department, the system replaces a series of programs that utilized 30-year-old technology. To accomplish the configuration and implementation, a project team that included staff from both departments and the software company worked through identifying the data needs, collection methodology and workflows, privacy compliance, data migration, testing and staff training. The system will go live the first week of October.