Practice Management Insight

November 2013

A report on events affecting Oklahoma behavioral health providers

November is …

American Diabetes Month

Lung Cancer Awareness Month

National Family Caregivers Month

National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month

National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month

National Healthy Skin Month

OrionNet’s Newest Project: Callisto

OrionNet is in the process of creating a new software enterprise. Callisto is a software program designed to assist developmental disabilities service providers effectively manage their clients and practice. Much like ThinkHealth, the software provides electronic documentation, reporting and communication ensuring easy, accurate and efficient administration. Since the software program is tailored to the developmental disabilities community, caretakers get a system that is relevant, sensitive and effective for their field.

Meet OrionNet’s Technical Support Team

OrionNet is proud to introduce you to our Technical Support staff members. We have six skilled professionals who work hard to assist agencies with all of their troubleshooting needs. OrionNet has added two new support staff members in just the last few months. Our team is David, Kathy, Kayla, Brett, Fred and Support Manager Ryan. Each support technician has an advanced background in computer science.

Agencies often ask for our technical support members by name. We take pride in this intimate relationship. “We treat each client as we would a family member. We are always willing to be there for them and try to be as patient and kind as possible” says Brett.  Kathy has been with OrionNet for over 3 years. As she says, “I enjoy coming to work each day. It is very rewarding to hear how happy and relieved each customer is once we have been able to help them out.”

Vice President Biden: Fundamental shift on how society views mental health

The 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's signing of the Community Mental Health Act was commemorated late last month at a national forum on mental health policies.

Vice President Joe Biden was on hand for the Oct. 23 event and said that advances in science have led to "astounding discoveries" that could change how society conceptualizes mental illness. "Imagine when we are able to identify the biomarkers for mental illness," he said.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius also spoke at the forum. She said that more initiatives need to take place in order to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness and how it impedes seeking treatment. She said that 60% of Americans with mental health challenges and 9 out of 10 Americans battling substance abuse aren't receiving any treatment. "Imagine what it would mean if people felt as comfortable saying they were going for counseling as they were going for a flu shot," she said.

Former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island addressed the audience saying "This is the civil rights movement of our time. Together we're going to ensure not only quality treatment but equality of treatment."

The law signed by Kennedy in 1963 aimed to build mental health facilities so that effected Americans could be treated while working and living at home rather than being institutionalized.

Recent tragedies have renewed public attention to the mental health system and areas where Kennedy's hopes for the treatment and care of those with mental illness were never realized.

"Together we're going to ensure not only quality treatment but equality of treatment."

November 6

Election Day

November 8

OHCA Board Meeting

OHCA

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November 8 – 9

Case Management Training

OKC

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November 11

Veterans Day

November 12

‘Veterans Day’ observed

November 14

Medical Advisory Committee Meeting

OHCA

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November 14

Drug Utilization Review Board Meeting

OHCA

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November 16

Specialty Court Orientation

OKC

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November 16

ODMHSAS Board Meeting

OKC

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November 16

ODMHSAS Real Property Trust Meeting

OKC

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November 17

International Survivors of Suicide Day

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

November 20

Perinatal Task Force Meeting

OU Health Sciences Center Campus/Schusterman Campus

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November 22

Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving from your friends at OrionNet!

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