Real-Time Alerts Enable HHUNY to Improve Transitions for Incarcerated Individuals in New York State

Netsmart and Health Homes of Upstate New York (HHUNY) announced the expansion of their collaboration together, to include the incorporation of real-time justice system alerts designed to improve transitions for individuals entering and exiting correctional facilities. HHUNY is a management services organization (MSO) that provides administrative support and governance to four affiliated health homes and more than 65 care management agencies across the state.

Through a community partnership between HHUNY, Rochester Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) and Monroe County, care managers are alerted through the Netsmart CareManager™ platform when an individual receiving health home services interacts with the jail system and connects these individuals to the appropriate services. The services are designed to ensure access to appropriate primary, behavioral and addictions care.

“Time is of the essence when someone is going through a major life change,” said HHUNY Executive Director Deborah Salgueiro. “Having real-time notifications is critical and allows for timely intervention. We know in clinical practice that we have a window of opportunity to engage a client when they are leaving the justice system. Many clients often have no place to live, no family support, no income and often find themselves starting their lives over from ground zero. It is a particular time of vulnerability and a chance to connect in a powerful and meaningful way to get them on the right foot and headed in the right direction.”

Approximately 20 percent of jail inmates and 15 percent of state prison inmates have some form of serious mental illness. Upon release, coordination of appropriate services such as physical and mental healthcare, housing, peer support and substance use services benefit long-term success.

“There has been much focus on engaging clients in continuing care as they are released from a healthcare facility,” said Craig Johnson, COO at Huther Doyle Memorial Institute, one of HHUNY’s affiliated health homes. “The transition from a jail or correctional facility can also constitute a life-changing event and typically brings about substantial challenges. This process can be navigated more effectively when care managers are informed about a client being released from custody and allow the opportunity for immediate engagement. We are very excited that we now have these timely updates.”

Salgueiro notes her excitement about the future of the partnership. The community collaboration between the Monroe County corrections system, Rochester RHIO, HHUNY’s care management organizations, and Netsmart will continue to enhance communication with the justice system in a more transparent way. The use of these alerts will allow the organizations to be more effective in supporting individuals during significant transitions.

“We are excited to continue to be a part of the HHUNY story as they leverage the ever-expanding Netsmart network to connect to other stakeholders in a way that truly drives better care and outcomes,” said Netsmart CEO Mike Valentine. “The partnership continues to grow, and we are happy to be the technology partner supporting this important work improving the health and wellbeing for the citizens in the region.”

About Health Homes of Upstate New York

Health Homes of Upstate New York is a management services organization formed in 2013, that provides administrative support and governance to five affiliated Health Homes serving adults or children in New York State. HHUNY, through its Management Services Organization, has four affiliated adult Health Homes – Circare, Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene, Huther Doyle and BestSelf Health Home Services serving 22 counties in the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, and Central and Western New York; and a children’s health home, CHHUNY, a 114 agency collaborative partnership spanning 54 counties in New York State. Partnering with more than 180 Care Management agencies and 1,000 Care Managers, HHUNY has engaged over 58,000 members since its inception in 2013. HHUNY MSO supports Health Home Care Management agencies by providing practice management and administrative support services through Training, Marketing, HIT, Billing, CQI and Provider Network Relations. Many Medicaid beneficiaries suffer from multiple or severe chronic conditions, and benefit from organized coordination and management of the health and long-term services they receive. HHUNY, through New York Care Coordination Program (NYCCP)'s extensive work in practice transformation research and implementation initiatives, has been at the forefront of adopting a person-centered, recovery-focused delivery service model for its members. HHUNY, led by Executive Director, Deborah Salgueiro, is a subsidiary of New York Care Coordination Program which since 2002, has engaged in transformation initiatives in efforts to accomplish its mission of creating a person-centered, recovery-oriented system of care.

About Netsmart

Netsmart designs, builds and delivers electronic health records (EHRs), health information exchanges (HIEs), analytics and telehealth solutions and services that are powerful, intuitive and easy-to-use. Our platform provides accurate, up-to-date information that is easily accessible to care team members in behavioral health, home health, senior living and social services. We make the complex simple and personalized so our clients can concentrate on what they do best: provide services and treatment that support whole-person care.

By leveraging the powerful Netsmart network, care providers can seamlessly and securely integrate information across communities, collaborate on the most effective treatments and improve outcomes for those in their care. Our streamlined systems and personalized workflows put relevant information at the fingertips of users when and where they need it.

For more than 50 years, Netsmart has been committed to providing a common platform to integrate care. SIMPLE. PERSONAL. POWERFUL.

Our more than 2,000 associates work hand-in-hand with our 600,000+ users in more than 30,000 organizations across the U.S. to develop and deploy technology that automates and coordinates everything from clinical to financial to administrative.

Learn more about how Netsmart is changing the face of healthcare today. Visit www.ntst.com, call 1-800-472-5509, follow us on our CareThreads Blog, LinkedIn and Twitter, like us on Facebook or visit us on YouTube.

Netsmart is pleased to support the EveryDayMatters® Foundation, which was established for behavioral health, care at home, senior living and social services organizations to learn from each other and share their causes and stories.

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