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Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork! If you ask a clinician about their least favorite part of their job, without hesitation, the overwhelming majority would identify the dreaded and endless amount of paperwork.
Whether in community mental health, a hospital setting, or private practice, clinicians cannot run nor hide from fulfilling their legal and ethical obligation of proper documentation. While electronic health records (EHRs) and other platforms have eased the pain of handwritten notes, the efficacy of such platforms can come at a price, whether financially or with the frustration surrounding its limitations.
Introducing Compass by Spring Health
This is why Spring Health is excited about the upcoming launch of Compass by Spring Health (Compass). Starting in November 2022, Spring Health Providers can look forward to the debut of Compass, a new platform that goes beyond the standard EHR.
Designed in collaboration with fellow clinicians and mental health professionals, Compass strives to improve clinical outcomes for clients and patients while creating the ultimate guide and experience for providers and other care team members. Compass will support and guide providers, as they continue to deliver high quality care for their patients.
Collaboration is key when discussing the best standard of care. Compass allows for easy collaboration with other members on the patient’s treatment team.
Developed for and by mental health providers
As Spring Health prepares to launch its own platform, I had the opportunity to interview two Provider Leads who were greatly involved in the creation and development of this integrated system: Megan Bohinc, PCC-S, MFT, LPC and Jen Callen, LCSW, LICSW.
No one knows the pain providers experience with EHRs like another provider. Megan and Jen have applied their first-hand experience and knowledge, advocacy for other clinicians, dedication, and commitment to excellence into creating an efficient platform.
I sat down with them to reflect on their experiences and behind the scenes moments while working on the Compass launch. They also shared their favorite new features and provided some tips and tricks on how to navigate Compass.
Merraf: How did you end up on the Compass Technical Workgroup?
Jen: When I started at Spring Health as a Provider Lead, my clinical director at the time asked me about my interests and areas for professional growth.
One of my main developmental goals was to contribute direct feedback from our provider network to the product team to improve efficiency and provider/patient satisfaction. As a part-time therapist, it was on my radar almost from the beginning, so when asked if I was interested in being on the committee, I jumped at it and said, “Yes!”
Megan: I love sharing my opinion, making things better, and figuring out what the barrier is or what can improve the product or the process.
I’ve been working with Spring Health since April 2020. This has allowed me to share the process of being a provider on the network, what we would need, the barriers we’re experiencing with our current system, and what this new system could potentially look like.
Merraf: Why do you think it was so important to create and develop a platform like Compass?
Megan: We got to a point where Spring Health decided there isn’t a great system out there. There are a lot of separate systems that don’t really talk to each other. We needed to create our own.
Jen: It’s important to have a positive experience not just for members, but for providers as well. The ability to streamline systems will help providers not only be able to treat their patients, but also improve efficiency in terms of completing documentation.
Merraf: You’ve had the opportunity to work side by side with the product and engineer teams. As a clinician and a Spring Health provider, how was that experience? How beneficial do you think it was to collaborate with the Provider Leads?
Jen: In developing Compass, collaboration was needed, and I think the teams collaborated really well. The clinicians on the team were respectful of knowing that we don‘t know all of the things related to creating a product.
At the same time, the product team was super open to understanding what it is we do and truly trying to gain insight into what that looks like so they could create the best product for us.
Megan: I learned quickly that I don’t know how to code! I may have an idea that seems really easy to me, but it’s actually not. I really appreciated the experience of trying to learn each other’s language and come together to create the best product for this first phase.
Merraf: What can providers expect when using Compass?
Megan: It’s much more user friendly and easier to navigate. It is very helpful to know what sections need to be completed.
Jen: I think initially, what providers are going to see is more structure, particularly when it comes to the design of the note, which will help eliminate a lot of questions about what needs to be included in the note. Compass is going to improve the quality of our documentation across the network by ensuring providers are meeting Spring Health’s expectations in documentation standards.
Merraf: What is your favorite new feature on Compass?
Jen: The ability to access all completed assessments, including scores and how each question was answered.
Megan: All of your upcoming appointments are on the list. I don't have to exit out of a system to go to another practice to find my other licensed state and my patients.
Merraf: What are some things providers can look forward to and be excited about? Any tips or tricks you’d like to share?
Megan: There’s a to-do list of all the notes you have to complete and sign. This helps with documentation. You can collapse each section so you won’t have a long scroll.
Jen: There’s a filter! You can filter by name, appointment date, last appointment date, and risk—whatever you want to see. Also, you can’t sign a note unless all required fields are completed, and you can access a video call from within the note.
Merraf: What are you most proud of about Compass?
Jen: Providers are going to notice the efficiency of it and the less time it will take to complete a note. There will be a standard of care through documentation that we want to have across the network.
Megan: The usability of Phase I is such a huge step in progress. The sky's the limit in terms of how amazing it will be.
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