Empowering Behavioral Health Settings with the Mental Health Methodology
Mental health remains a critical topic nationwide, both in clinical settings and everyday conversations. At AcuityPlus by Harris OnPoint, we understand the complex demands placed on healthcare professionals, especially nurses working in behavioral health environments. With the AcuityPlus Mental Health methodology, our hospital partners empower their nurses to manage behavioral health focused assignments with real-time insights and data-driven decision support.
A Specialized Approach to Behavioral Health Settings
Behavioral health patients often present unique and fluctuating care needs. Our Mental Health methodology uses 24 proprietary acuity indicators to continuously assess and classify patient needs throughout the day. These indicators offer a comprehensive view of patient acuity—going beyond safety concerns to include cognitive support, care coordination, and wound and injury management.
Seamless Integration, No Additional Workload
AcuityPlus integrates directly with your Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Time and Attendance systems, pulling real-time data from documentation your staff is already completing—like admission assessments, medication administration, physician orders, and discharge records.
This approach ensures:
- Real-time visibility into patient acuity and resource needs
- No additional workload on nurses or clinical staff
- Powerful dashboards for tracking and trending data at the unit and facility levels
Real Examples, Real Results
For instance, our Cognitive Support indicator is triggered when documentation suggests a patient may be experiencing delusions (e.g., believing food is poisoned). By recognizing staff notes about reassurance and behavioral interventions, AcuityPlus dynamically adjusts the acuity score for that patient to account for that work.
Another example is the Wound and Injury Management indicator, which captures patients needing specialized assistance—such as dressing changes or stoma care. These subtle but important differences are translated into validated care hour recommendations, supporting fair and efficient staffing.
This proprietary set of indicators allow nurse leaders to compare units—like an adolescent behavioral health unit versus a substance abuse recovery unit—using standardized data for staffing decisions, performance benchmarks, and quality improvements.
Comprehensive Acuity Tracking
Beyond patient care, AcuityPlus also accounts for nursing department responsibilities. From group therapy classes and safety sitter assignments to court appearances and day room monitoring, the solution tracks it all. This results in a holistic view of nursing workload every hour of every day—with no extra steps for your staff.
Equitable Assignments, Backed by Data
The Mental Health methodology isn’t just about monitoring—it’s about actionable intelligence. One of the most powerful features of AcuityPlus is its Assignment Module. Nurse leaders can translate acuity data into balanced assignments, ensuring equitable workloads across teams. This transforms the staffing process from a subjective task into a strategic, data-supported decision—ensuring fairness and efficiency across the board.
Discover the Power of Acuity-Based Assignments
At AcuityPlus, we believe in empowering healthcare teams with data-driven tools that enhance care, improve nurse satisfaction, and optimize resources. Our Mental Health methodology is redefining how behavioral health units and hospitals manage complexity—making staffing smarter, safer, and more sustainable.
Are you ready to learn how AcuityPlus can help your organization see the true power of what an acuity-based solution offers? Connect with us today.
The AcuityPlus Mental Health Methodology empowers nursing care teams in behavioral health settings with its objective, data-driven approach to acuity and workload.
Watch the video to learn more about how an acuity-based nursing workload tool can deliver transformative value to your organization.
