The Unforeseen Challenge of Patient Progress Tracking
As the healthcare landscape gradually transitions towards value-based care nationwide, clinicians are facing a mounting challenge that is notably shifting their focus from patient care to administrative tasks. A recent survey conducted by Twofold Health has thrown light on this pressing issue: tracking patient progress and outcomes has emerged as the most significant hurdle for healthcare providers, primarily in mental health and primary care. This revelation indicates a critical need for improved solutions in the industry as healthcare professionals strive to monitor treatment effectiveness amid evolving care mandates.
Survey Insights
According to the survey, which included responses from 446 mental health and primary care providers, approximately
36% identified tracking patient progress as their primary concern. In stark contrast, only
15.5% pinpointed issues related to insurance as a greater challenge. This discrepancy suggests that many healthcare providers are overwhelmed by the demands of accurately monitoring their patients' developments and showcasing the effectiveness of their treatment plans.
Gal Steinberg, the CEO of Twofold Health, commented on the findings:
"Clinicians are spending countless hours on administrative tasks when they should be tracking the impact of their delivery and care on patients." The alarming truth lies in the fact that these healthcare professionals often lack the requisite tools and time to effectively assess their patients' progress, leading to a concerning imbalance between care delivery and patient documentation.
The Burden of Documentation
For mediums-sized practices, specifically those with 10-49 clinicians, progress tracking emerged as a vital area of concern. In fact, it accounted for nearly half of all mentioned challenges. Other key issues such as client billing and no-shows were also noted but tended to take a backseat to the documentation demands associated with patient outcome tracking. These administrative dynamics reveal a pressing need for change within the healthcare sector.
Additionally, clinicians expressed particular frustration with standardized outcome measurements and the task of assigning and monitoring homework for patients in between sessions. This exhaustive documentation process consumes a considerable amount of time—time that could be better spent providing direct care or preventing burnout among healthcare professionals. Vanessa Valles, a licensed clinical social worker and group practice owner, emphasized the impact of this administrative burden on clinical work, stating,
"Progress tracking and documentation requirements take time away from direct patient care and therapeutic presence." Such sentiments underline the urgent requirement for innovative tools to ease this administrative workload and create a healthier working environment.
The Bigger Picture
The survey's implications reach far beyond individual clinician experiences; they contribute to the growing body of literature surrounding the challenges of implementing value-based care. A 2023 study published in
Health Affairs reveals that administrative tasks consume
25% of a physician's time, with documentation being the primary driver of burnout. This highlights an urgent need to reassess how healthcare systems can better support clinicians in their roles while enhancing patient outcomes.
Methodological Approach
To delve into these issues, Twofold Health surveyed its user base, utilizing their AI clinical documentation platform in October 2025. The participants involved consisted of mental health professionals, including therapists and psychiatrists, as well as primary care clinicians, all of whom work in varying practice sizes from solo practitioners to groups of 50+. Notably,
61% of the respondents were solo practitioners.
About Twofold Health
Founded with the goal of easing the burdens faced by clinicians in small and medium practices, Twofold Health offers an AI scribe that aids therapists and physicians in minimizing their documentation time while ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations. Their platform allows clinicians to focus on what they do best—providing care—rather than becoming mired in paperwork. For more information about how this innovative solution can help, visit
Twofold Health.
As the healthcare sector continues to evolve, it is critical to equip clinicians with the necessary resources and tools to ensure that patient care remains at the forefront of their responsibilities. The challenges identified in this survey serve as a call to action for the industry to collaboratively seek solutions that can enhance both clinician effectiveness and patient outcomes.