Netsmart, an industry-leading provider of healthcare technology solutions and services, today announced a strategic partnership with the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) to integrate the ASAM CONTINUUM™ and ASAM CO-Triage^® assessment tools within the Netsmart electronic health record (EHR) platform. The partnership will improve the accessibility and quality of care for individuals with addiction and co-occurring disorders across the nation.

“Our partnership with ASAM demonstrates our commitment to serving and supporting the complex needs of individuals served by our clients,” said Netsmart SVP & Managing Director of Human Services David Strocchia. “By using evidence-based treatment tools, we can leverage technology to help overcome healthcare challenges and strengthen our focus on the full spectrum of care, including addiction treatment and behavioral health.”

ASAM CONTINUUM is an electronic assessment tool that allows clinicians, counselors and other staff to leverage a computerized clinical decision support system (CDSS) to assess individuals with addictive, substance-related disorders and co-occurring conditions. The computer-guided, structured interview guides interviewers through a whole-person comprehensive assessment aligned with the six dimensions of The ASAM Criteria^® to determine service planning, transfer recommendations and treatment across all levels of care.

Through this partnership, the ASAM CONTINUUM is seamlessly integrated as part of the clinical workflow within the Netsmart CareFabric^® platform that has been specifically developed to meet the unique requirements for human services, including addiction treatment, behavioral health and physical health.

“Netsmart is one of the top electronic health record providers for addiction treatment and behavioral health practice management,” said William F. Haning, III, MD, DLFAPA, DFASAM, president of ASAM. “We look forward to this partnership. Integration with the ASAM CONTINUUM will expand provider access to an evidence-based, multidimensional assessment, supporting individualized placement and comprehensive treatment planning.”

The ASAM CO-Triage screener, a quick referral tool for alcohol and drug use, will supplement the partnership solution integration by providing a preliminary level of care recommendation. In 10 minutes on average, CO-Triage provides a 21-question guide for substance use, major medical and psychological conditions, adhering to The ASAM Criteria dimensions. It is used by call centers, crisis units, court coordinators, law enforcement and first responders.

“With the ASAM CONTINUUM, patients can receive a standardized, high quality evidence-based interview assessment and decision analysis,” explained David R. Gastfriend, MD, DFASAM, Chief Architect of the ASAM CONTINUUM. “In a national opioid epidemic, more and more states are adopting these tools. With it, patients and families can be assured that they will receive a comprehensive, patient-centered, science-based determination of needs and strengths. Payers will receive objective level of care recommendations for optimal clinical outcomes with the least intensive use of resources. In addition, large systems will receive the most clinically detailed data possible for evaluation, service planning and quality improvement. This new partnership will bring advanced technology to bear on America’s addiction crisis.”

About ASAM

ASAM, founded in 1954, is a professional medical society representing over 6,600 physicians, clinicians, and associated professionals in the field of addiction medicine. ASAM is dedicated to increasing access and improving the quality of addiction treatment, educating physicians and the public, supporting research and prevention, and promoting the appropriate role of physicians in the care of patients with addiction. For more information, visit www.ASAM.org for more information.

About Netsmart

Netsmart, a leading provider of Software as a Service (SaaS) technology and services solutions, 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 the human services and post-acute care (which is comprised of home care and hospice and senior living) markets. 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 2,400 associates work hand-in-hand with our 680,000+ users at our clients 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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