The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health: A Conversation with David Strocchia of Netsmart

The behavioral health care landscape is rapidly evolving, and one of the most profound changes on the horizon is the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health. AI is no longer just a futuristic concept; it is actively transforming how care is delivered in behavioral health, improving efficiency, supporting clinical decision-making, and creating new opportunities for providers. In a recent interview with Behavioral Health Business, David Strocchia, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Provider Solutions at Netsmart, shared his unique insights on the growing adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health, its impact on providers, and how this technology is revolutionizing the entire behavioral health ecosystem.

Strocchia has been with Netsmart for 17 years, a tenure that spans much of the company’s remarkable transformation. From its early days as a small company focused on behavioral health electronic health records (EHRs), Netsmart has grown into a comprehensive technology provider supporting a wide range of services, including addiction treatment, autism care (including Applied Behavior Analysis or ABA), intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) services, integrated care, and post-acute care. This broad scope allows Netsmart to digitize the full ecosystem of its clients’ operations, driving increased value as a partner to behavioral health providers.

David Strocchia’s Unique Perspective on the Behavioral Health Sector

In discussing his career journey, Strocchia reflects on how his long tenure at Netsmart has given him a deep understanding of both technology and the evolving needs of the healthcare industry. “In this field, people often move from job to job or company to company, but I’ve been with Netsmart for 17 years, which constitutes most of my career,” Strocchia explains. “I’ve witnessed our organization evolve from a small company focused on behavioral health EHRs to a full technology platform provider for various types of care.”

This long-standing involvement in Netsmart’s growth has provided Strocchia with a unique vantage point. He emphasizes that while the company has grown significantly, Netsmart’s leadership remains committed to staying close to the communities it serves. By fostering individual leaders who are responsible for specific communities, the organization can continue to leverage its scale while remaining nimble enough to address local needs.

Strocchia’s mindset as a technologist is rooted in problem-solving—a quality that has shaped his approach to both his life and career. He says, “I have gravitated towards identifying and solving problems. This mindset is central to how I approach my work and the challenges we may face.” This passion for problem-solving has been instrumental in Netsmart’s approach to adopting and leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health.

The Surprising Value of Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health

AI’s increasing influence in behavioral health is evident, but the results have been more dramatic than many anticipated. Strocchia highlights the significant strides made in reducing the burden of clinical documentation—an issue that has long been a challenge for providers.

“Historically, we’ve been gradually reducing the time needed to complete workflows through digitization,” he says. “But Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health is truly a game changer for the entire organization. By leveraging these tools, we have been able to give significantly more time back to providers in the past few years than we have in the past few decades.”

At Netsmart, the implementation of AI tools has resulted in remarkable efficiency gains. “Within a year of adopting our AI tools, we’ve been able to cut the average clinician’s time spent on clinical documentation in half,” Strocchia shares. “Moving from what felt like pushing a boulder up a hill to such a dramatic change has been incredible.”

This dramatic improvement in workflow efficiency is especially significant in an environment where regulations and reporting requirements have often created additional layers of complexity for providers. The burden of compliance and state, Medicaid, and Medicare reporting requirements have historically slowed productivity gains. However, AI has managed to address these challenges while minimizing the organizational changes typically required by other new technologies.

Overcoming Hesitation and Reluctance to Adopt Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health

While Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health is offering clear benefits, there is still some hesitancy among providers to embrace these new technologies. Strocchia acknowledges that reluctance is nothing new in healthcare. In fact, it mirrors the skepticism that was initially met with the introduction of e-prescribing technology.

“I remember when providers were hesitant to adopt e-Prescribing technology,” Strocchia recalls. “They would say, ‘How can you give me a piece of technology that will be easier than this?’” In those early days, some clinicians couldn’t see how digital prescriptions could improve their workflow, yet over time, e-prescribing became a standard, critical tool.

The same logic applies to Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health today. While AI can seem like an abstract and complex concept, its value is undeniable. Strocchia encourages behavioral health providers to recognize that AI will soon be as essential as EHRs have become today. “If individuals are hesitant to adopt AI, they need to reconsider. Soon, Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health will be as common – and – essential as EHRs have become today.”

AI’s impact isn’t limited to clinical tasks. It extends to back-office operations like revenue cycle management. Providers who aren’t using AI tools to maximize their revenue cycle are missing out on significant opportunities to improve cash flow, support organizational growth, and, most importantly, expand access to care. AI also helps address staffing shortages—a critical concern in today’s healthcare environment—by reducing administrative burdens and allowing clinicians to focus on more meaningful aspects of patient care.

Importantly, Strocchia highlights that AI is not about replacing clinicians but rather enhancing their ability to make informed decisions. AI tools provide valuable data that empowers clinicians to make more accurate, evidence-based decisions, ultimately improving patient outcomes. “The focus must remain on people,” Strocchia emphasizes, “because technology can provide support, streamline workflows, and offer valuable resources, but the core of effective care and positive outcomes often hinges on empathy, understanding, and personal connections.”

The Road Ahead: What’s Next for Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health?

As we move into the final quarter of 2024, Strocchia predicts several exciting advancements in Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health that will continue to reshape behavioral health care through 2025 and beyond. One of the most promising areas is the use of predictive models in care coordination.

Netsmart, along with other organizations, is working on predictive models for areas like rehospitalization risks and relapse in addiction treatment. These models use existing data and algorithms to predict individual risks and provide valuable insights to clinicians, enabling them to make decisions based on each patient’s unique circumstances.

“Predictive models are definitely an area to watch,” Strocchia says. “We’re working on predictive models for issues like rehospitalization and relapse in addiction. These models analyze data and provide caregivers with valuable information for making decisions based on individual risk factors.”

Additionally, large language models will continue to gain traction in behavioral health care. These models can summarize complex data and provide clearer insights into a patient’s history, making it easier for clinicians to review care information quickly and accurately. For example, a large language model could provide a summary of a patient’s entire experience in an outpatient therapy program, eliminating the need for clinicians to sift through vast amounts of raw data.

AI in Specialized Care: Addiction and Autism Treatment

The application of AI in specialized areas like addiction treatment and autism care is particularly valuable, given the complexity and individual nature of these care models. Addiction treatment encompasses a broad range of services, from inpatient detox to therapy-based programs and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). AI can play a crucial role in measuring the effectiveness of these interventions and personalizing treatment plans to each patient’s needs.

Predictive models in addiction care are also essential for assessing relapse risk. AI can identify individual triggers and help providers create personalized, data-driven care plans that improve long-term recovery outcomes.

In the autism space, AI has a slightly different application. Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy is widely regarded as the gold standard for autism treatment, and while it requires significant human involvement, AI can enhance ABA by providing data-driven insights for behavior interventionists. AI can help measure treatment effectiveness, track progress, and make more informed decisions about care plans.

“The larger and more robust the data set, the more applicable AI models can be,” Strocchia notes. While ABA therapy still relies heavily on human interaction, AI has the potential to support clinicians by providing more detailed data to guide individualized care plans.

Redefining AI in Healthcare: A More Human-Centered Approach

Strocchia advocates for a shift in how we conceptualize Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health. Historically, AI has had a somewhat negative connotation, often associated with dystopian portrayals in science fiction. However, Strocchia believes that the application of AI in healthcare offers a more human way of interacting with technology.

Rather than replacing clinicians, AI provides the tools to make their work easier and more effective. “While the math behind AI is indeed scientific, its application in healthcare offers a more human way of interacting with technology,” he says. Clinicians could eventually interact with their EHRs in a more conversational way, allowing them to work more efficiently while focusing on their patients.

Looking to 2025: People Will Define the Future of Behavioral Health

As we look ahead to 2025, Strocchia believes the behavioral health space will continue to be defined by the people who deliver care, not the technology itself. “In the behavioral health space, 2025 will be defined by… people – not technology – including AI,” he concludes.

Despite the rise of AI and other technologies, it is the dedicated clinicians and providers who will continue to shape the future of behavioral health. These professionals are at the heart of providing excellent care to individuals across a wide range of needs—from addiction and autism treatment to mental health and severe persistent mental illness. Technology will undoubtedly play a significant role, but it will remain a tool to help providers better serve their communities.

In summary, Artificial Intelligence in Mental Health is transforming behavioral health care by streamlining workflows, improving decision-making, and offering personalized, data-driven insights that improve patient outcomes. As the sector continues to evolve, AI will be an invaluable resource in supporting providers as they navigate the challenges of delivering care in an increasingly complex and fast-paced environment. With organizations like Netsmart leading the charge, the future of behavioral health looks bright, with technology enhancing, not replacing, the human element that is the foundation of effective care.