Sound Mental Health streamlines healthcare information management using document control software.

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Case study reveals that converting residual paper-based procedures in healthcare to more efficient digital processes has positive impacts on quality of care.

Portland, Ore. – March 7, 2012 - Instant access to patient-related documents by healthcare professionals and immediate electronic routing of important patient files are among the benefits outlined in a new case study reporting on Sound Mental Health’s use of ColumbiaSoft’s document control software, Document Locator.

“At issue are important concerns addressed by technology that can have a positive impact on quality of care, and ColumbiaSoft’s document control software has made a difference at Sound Mental Health,” said Dian Wells, Sound Mental Health's Health Information Technology Director. “How quickly a doctor has access to all the information he or she needs to make sound treatment decisions; How much administrative time is liberated and made available for additional patient care; How fast critical healthcare information is routed to the professionals who need it; these are all areas where ColumbiaSoft’s Document Locator has had a positive impact.”

Faced with the challenge of how to eliminate the last remaining streams of paper in their healthcare organization, Sound Mental Health deployed an innovative series of solutions involving the conversion of paper to digital files, the automation of workflow with notifications, and a custom integration to an existing electronic medical records (EMR) system.

“Sound Mental Health is a forward looking organization, and we’re delighted to see them take every advantage of the technology in Document Locator,” said ColumbiaSoft executive vice president, David Pogue. “It’ such a great reward for us to know their success is built on our document management platform.”

Although an advanced EMR system had been in place for some time at Sound Mental Health, there remained unavoidable streams of paper in certain healthcare operations. These included everything from paper records generated outside the organization, such as with lab results, to patient supplied paper documents, to physicians’ notes. Because paper files had to be routed and filed manually, processes involving paper took more time.

Once converted to digital, the information within documents is fully searchable, and files are easily routed in electronic workflows. Healthcare professionals have immediate access to information and healthcare decisions can be made with greater speed.

A case study examining Sound Mental Health’s use of document control software can be found online at: https://www.documentlocator.com/resources/casestudies/soundmentalhealth.htm

About Sound Mental Health

Sound Mental Health is a private, non-profit organization that has provided a comprehensive array of mental health and related services to the King County community since 1966. Our goal is to help individuals and families achieve the highest level of independence and (mental) health possible. Services are tailored to meet the unique needs of different age, disability and cultural/ethnic groups. For more information, visit http://www.smh.org/.

About ColumbiaSoft Corporation

ColumbiaSoft is a leading document management software company that helps businesses reduce risk and improve productivity. Information workers use ColumbiaSoft software to manage and share digitized paper and electronic documents, e-mail, faxes, and other electronic files to lower costs, automate business processes, and meet regulatory requirements. As a Microsoft Gold Certified ISV Partner, an Autodesk Authorized Developer, ARX Strategic Partner, and an Adobe Solutions Network partner, the company’s products fully integrate with familiar applications such as Microsoft Windows, Office, Outlook, SharePoint, CoSign, Adobe Acrobat, AutoCAD, and more. ColumbiaSoft is a privately held company based in Portland, Oregon and was founded in 1998. For more information, visit https://www.documentlocator.com.

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Media Contact:
Jim Kemp
Marketing Communications Manager, ColumbiaSoft Corporation
800.298.1172
pr@columbiasoft.com

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