Child Guidance Center Implements an Electronic Clinical Record

April 1, 2011 - PRLog -- The Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut (CGC) is eager to announce the successful implementation of a new Integrated Technology Management System (ITMS), including an electronic clinical record. The new CareLogic® software system, by Qualifacts, will enable CGC to build the technical capacity necessary to more effectively and efficiently manage and document services and outcomes, and increase capacity to serve more children and families. Qualifacts' CareLogic Enterprise is certified as a Complete EHR under the ARRA meaningful use rules.

In an environment of increased demand and diminishing resources, the transition to an integrated system will dramatically accelerate clinical and business practices. The primary goals of the new system include: (1) Increase capacity to provide direct services; (2) Refine ability to measure effectiveness of programs and services; (3) Improve compliance with government regulatory requirements; (4) Enhance collaborations through information exchange in a secure, confidential, timely, and uniform medium; and (5) Improve efficiency of operations and maximize financial performance.

With a nationwide focus on the transition to electronic health records for healthcare providers, including behavioral health, CGC is excited to collaborate with other agencies in Connecticut by joining ‘meaningful use’ groups. These groups offer opportunities for benchmarking and research to enhance practice through electronic data collection and exchange.

To date, CGC has secured a $100,000 challenge grant from a private foundation and an additional $10,000 grant from a donor advised fund of the Fairfield County Community Foundation for this project. “This technology initiative will greatly enhance CGC’s ability to provide effective, comprehensive, and coordinated services that better serve children and families, while increasing our capacity to meet growing demand,” explains Sherry Perlstein, Executive Director. “It will bring CGC’s management and operational capacity in line with the clinical excellence that has been foundational to our mission and our ability to remain a vital community resource for over 57 years.”

The Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut (CGC) is a non-profit mental health resource, serving children and teenagers in Stamford, Greenwich, Darien and New Canaan, both self referred and through referrals from schools, physicians, courts, and public and private human service agencies. CGC’s clinical staff of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other clinicians work with more than 2,000 children annually, providing culturally competent and sensitive care to families representative of the rich ethnic mix of communities CGC serves. Preventative services are provided to youngsters, parents, and professionals through community education and consultation programs. Incorporated in 1954, CGC is supported by the Connecticut Department of Children & Families, Connecticut Office of Victim Crime Services, United Ways of Greenwich and Western Connecticut. CGC is a beneficiary of generous individual, foundation, and corporate contributions. http://www.childguidancect.org

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The Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut is a professionally staffed outpatient mental health center for children and adolescents who experience psychological, behavioral, developmental, social or family problems.