In the next six months, New Passages will be rolling out new HR, financial, and electronic medical record programs.  These three systems will interface, creating one integrated management information system.  It is our goal to use this technology to become much more efficient.  There are instances now, where we have to enter data multiple times.  This new system will streamline this process so that most information will only be entered once. This new system will also reduce billing errors and increase the quality of client charts.

Obviously a major issue for New Passages is how to get our system to exchange information with the other organizations we do business with.  One of the problems in the current mental health system is that there is a mishmash of management information systems across the state.  New Passages is taking the lead in an effort to pilot a project that will share information across systems.  Given the degree to which the community mental health system is fractured this will be a very ambitious project.  If we are ever to get to a place were information is readily available and easily accessible we will need a statewide plan that mandates this kind of integration.  The more consistent the information we have about consumer's mental health and primary health care needs the more effective we can be at providing quality treatment that leads to increased recovery.

I welcome your comments regarding this issue.