Connections App FAQs
The Connections App is an evidence-based mobile application from CHESS Health designed and proven to provide ongoing support and relapse prevention to people recovering from substance use disorders. Features of the Connections App include:
- Digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to teach and reinforce key recovery skills
- Moderated group discussions with peers
- 1:1 and group messaging with care team
- Recovery progress tracking
- Rx & Appointment reminders
- Sobriety tracking
- Audio, video recovery content
- Recovery help button
- Telehealth/video conferencing
It’s very easy. There are three options – the simplest is the provider tells the patient about the app, perhaps shows them the Explainer Video (which is also viewable within the CHESS Dashboard), and then enters seven or eight data fields into a secure, online form within the CHESS Dashboard – fields such as: Patient Name, Gender, Date of Birth, Mobile Number, Primary Staff, and Payer. This triggers a real-time text message to the patient with a link to download the Connections App and a temporary password. That’s it.
Yes, that’s a very important feature of eRecovery and the Connections App. Your patients will download and use the Connections App; your staff will have the option of using the web-based CHESS Dashboard or CHESS’ Companion App, through which you can message them 1:1, lead/moderate your own discussion group, view their recovery progress (from survey answers), send them appointments, and more.
Is there a limit on the number of staff in my organization that access the CHESS Dashboard or Companion App?
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No, there’s no limit.
How does my staff get trained on the CHESS Dashboard and the Companion App? How long does the training last?
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During the first month of the project, CHESS will offer Oklahoma providers webinar-based training sessions on the CHESS Dashboard daily and can schedule other times as necessary. See this website or email ok-dmhsupport@chess.health for schedule information or to request another time. Depending on demand, the frequency of open training session may adjust in the future. Training sessions are typically no more than 30 minutes. Training guides and reference materials will also be offered.
When an organization sets up a client/patient to use the app, they typically enter their name so that the organization can know who they’re engaging with through the app (organization staff are linked to the client/patient), but only the organization/provider knows the patient’s identity. The first time the patient accesses the app they will be promoted to give themselves an alias name, which will shield their identity when they participate in online discussions with other individuals (peers) in the app.
The privacy policy, written for patients, is available for them to read at www.connectionsapp.com, in the Apple App store, in the Google Play Store, and in the Connections App itself.
CHESS Health has been delivering its technology solutions for behavioral health for five years and utilizes industry best practices with respect to data security and operational controls. All data is encrypted using 256bit AES encryption in-transit and at rest. Complex passwords, role-based security, and segregated databases control access to patient data. Intrusion detection and virus protection protect the networks used by CHESS employees and the solution databases hosted at Amazon Web Services. Amazon Web Services has the industry’s most advanced physical controls protecting their data centers.
CHESS Health meets or exceeds all the requirements of HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 regulations. Does CHESS sell or re-use the customer/patient data captured in eRecovery/Connections App?
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No. As stated in CHESS’s terms and conditions, CHESS may not sell or re-purpose Customer’s/Provider’s Protected Health Information (PHI). CHESS may only use de-identified data for usage analytics.
My organization has counselors and peer recovery support specialists that would want to be connected with their clients/patients – can they be connected to only their clients/patients and not see others?
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Yes, eRecovery is a great solution for peer recovery support specialists to use to engage with clients/patients who are using the Connections App, especially the secure messaging features. Similarly, eRecovery is great for counselors to follow and engage with their clients/patients – counselors appreciate seeing recovery progress data in the dashboard/companion app from their client’s/patient’s responses to weekly surveys.
Yes, peer recovery support specialists and counselors can be linked only to their clients/patients and blocked from seeing data on other patients at the same provider organization.
To setup clients/patients, you will need to utilize a Chrome, Safari, or Firefox browser. Internet Explorer is not compatible with the CHESS Dashboard.
How can I learn more about the evidence of the effectiveness of the Connections App & eTherapy?
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The Connections App is the commercial version of the ACHESS app developed and clinically-validated by Dave Gustafson, PhD., of the University of Wisconsin. The eTherapy program is the commercial version of CBT4CBT, developed and clinically-validated by Kathleen Carroll, PhD., of Yale University. To read the published articles, go to www.chess.health/evidence.
e-Intervention FAQs
eIntervention is CHESS’ solution for getting individuals to treatment, facilitating care transitions, connecting individuals with community services, and supporting family members and caregivers.
What are the benefits of eIntervention?
There are many benefits, including but not limited to:
- Keep track of patient referrals throughout the care continuum
- Ease of finding the right provider for the patient
- Timely management of incoming referrals
- Effective tracking and follow-ups
- Increased revenue associated with successful referrals
- Real-time referral analytics / metrics
- Closed-loop referral management
- Improved patient experience
- At-a-Glance referral inbox to view and manage all referrals
Talk to a CHESS Health CS Consultant for more information.
No, there’s no fee for participants. Participants that are invited to the online referral management network can join free of charge.
The process for adding participants is very easy! Here are the steps:
- The CHESS Health Consultant will work with you to identify and document participants (senders and receivers) in your referral network
- CHESS Health provides Participant Letters
- Providers send introduction email to Participant with an offer to join the referral network for free. Participant Letter is attached and CC: CHESS Health
- Participant attends educational webinar, optional
- Participant signs the Letter and sends to CHESS Health
- CHESS Health reaches out / identify staff / train staff
- Go-live!
General FAQs
The HIPAA regulations require that if an organization is serving clients/patients related to their healthcare and this organization uses another company which will be storing its client/patient data (CHESS Health in this case), then the organization and the business partner need to have a business associates agreement (BAA) in-place. CHESS’ version is a standard one. Alternatively, CHESS is also open to using your organization’s standard BAA.
Can I request a private demo and/or discussion of the Connections App and the staff functionality?
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Yes. Please contact ok-dmhsupport@chess.health to schedule a private demo or discussion of the CHESS Health platform, if you’d rather not discuss or learn about the solution with other Oklahoma providers.