May is Mental Health Awareness Month; a time when the nation turns its attention to the importance of mental health and substance use care. This year, it also marks a moment of pride for Qualifacts.
On April 20, Holly Carman, Senior Compliance Manager at Qualifacts, participated in a landmark, all-day event hosted by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/ONC) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Titled “Technology’s Role in Making America Healthy Again: A Discussion on Mental Health & Substance Use Care,” this event brought together leaders in government, technology, and healthcare, including providers and Americans with lived experience who helped examine how expanded adoption of health IT can improve mental health and substance use care outcomes and advance the commitment to whole-person recovery.
A Seat at the Table
Carman was a featured speaker in the second roundtable of the day: “Innovation in the Field: A Progress Report on Behavioral Health Transformation.” The discussion explored how health information technology is being applied in behavioral health and substance use disorder care settings today, discussing EHR-enabled care coordination, the emerging role of health IT in supporting clinical and patient outcomes, and more. Participants also addressed the program and policy conditions needed to expand access to effective tools and scale successful models across all communities.
Why This Matters
Behavioral health providers face unique challenges when it comes to technology adoption and data exchange. Too often, fragmented systems and interoperability gaps create barriers to the kind of coordinated, whole-person care that individuals in the behavioral health space need. Events like this HHS roundtable are critical because they bring together the people building the technology, the people shaping the policy, and the people delivering the care all in one room.
At Qualifacts, we believe that the right technology can break down those barriers and empower providers to focus on what matters most: helping people get better. Carman’s participation in this national conversation reflects our ongoing commitment to advancing behavioral health through innovation, compliance, and partnership.
H2: Watch the Full Discussion
All three roundtable sessions, along with opening remarks from ASTP/ONC National Coordinator Tom Keane and remarks from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., were recorded and are available to watch. If you’re a provider, policymaker, or anyone passionate about the future of behavioral health, we encourage you to explore the full day of discussions.
Watch the recordings at HealthIT.gov
Mental Health Awareness Month: From Awareness to Action
Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us that awareness is only the beginning. Real progress happens when awareness leads to action, and when it translates into policies that expand access to care, investments in the workforce, and technology that connects providers and patients across the care continuum.
Qualifacts is proud to play a role in that progress, and we’re honored that Carman had the opportunity to represent our team on a national stage.
