Why Mental Health Providers Should Attend Conferences: Insights from AACAP 2024
Attending conferences as a mental health provider or practice owner offers countless opportunities for growth, both personally and professionally. Conferences like AACAP 2024 (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) provide a space to engage with the latest innovations, build meaningful connections, and position your practice for long-term success.
At this year's AACAP, we not only had a chance to showcase what RipsyTech brings to the table but also saw firsthand how beneficial these events are for clinicians and organizations alike.
RipsyTech CEO Tom Tarshis and Product Manager Parker Anderson discuss key takeaways from AACAP 2024 at their booth for the latest episode of RipsyTech’s Sit and Stay podcast.
Top Benefits of Attending Conferences for Mental Health Providers
Whether you’re a solo practitioner or part of a larger practice, attending conferences like AACAP delivers tangible benefits that can make a difference in how you run your business:
Networking Opportunities
Conferences give providers the unique chance to reconnect with peers and mentors while meeting new faces in the mental health community. At AACAP 2024, we witnessed how easily professional relationships could form from a casual conversation in the exhibitor hall. The atmosphere encourages collaboration and sharing of ideas, which can lead to future partnerships or referrals.
Recruitment and Talent Acquisition
One of the biggest challenges for mental health practices is finding qualified clinicians. Conferences like AACAP provide the opportunity to meet potential candidates face-to-face, eliminating the need for expensive recruitment agencies. At our booth, we engaged with numerous attendees, ranging from early-career professionals to experienced clinicians, many of whom had already spoken with recruiters from clinics across the country.
Brand Visibility and Engagement
Having a booth provides an opportunity to showcase not just your services but also your personality and values as a company. At AACAP, we shared the RipsyTech brand with hundreds of attendees, using engaging giveaways like ball maze puzzles and stress-relief toys to start conversations. It's not just about immediate sign-ups—it's about building long-term recognition. People remember the interactions they have with you at these events, and that can pay dividends down the road.
Learning and Development
The mental health field is always evolving, and conferences are where you can see those changes happening in real time. AACAP 2024, for example, highlighted the growing interest in AI note-writing features. We saw firsthand how excited clinicians were when we demonstrated an AI tool that automates clinical notes. Innovations like these not only reduce administrative burdens but also improve efficiency—allowing providers to spend more time with their patients and less time on paperwork.
Client Trust and Relationship Building
For companies like RipsyTech, conferences are a great opportunity to connect with existing customers and engage with potential new ones. At our booth, we interacted with providers who were already using our EHR system, strengthening their trust in our product. These face-to-face interactions help deepen professional relationships and create lasting connections, which are vital for long-term customer satisfaction and continued growth.
Personal and Professional Growth
Beyond business, attending conferences provides a balance of professional development and personal growth. For many of us, it's an opportunity to step away from the daily grind and spend time reflecting on our goals while learning from the brightest minds in the industry. At AACAP, we reconnected with colleagues and enjoyed some downtime, which is equally important for overall well-being.
RipsyTech CEO Tom Tarshis demonstrates the new AI note features to an interested customer at AACAP 2024.
Key Insights and Trends from AACAP 2024
While the benefits of attending conferences are well-known, each event provides unique insights into the current challenges and innovations in the industry. At AACAP 2024, we noticed several key trends and concerns that mental health providers are grappling with, particularly around EHR systems:
AI-Powered Note-Taking Tools
A major theme at the conference was the growing interest in AI to assist with clinical documentation. RipsyTech had the opportunity to showcase our cutting-edge AI-powered note-taking features, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Clinicians were excited to see how this technology can drastically reduce the time spent on paperwork, allowing them to focus more on patient care. Many attendees expressed how much they were looking for solutions that could ease their administrative burdens without adding complexity to their workflow.
Streamlining Administrative Tasks
Providers were also highly interested in tools designed to streamline administrative tasks. As clinicians face increasing pressure to manage both patient care and the business side of their practice, the need for intuitive, efficient systems has never been greater. Attendees gravitated toward solutions that could simplify their day-to-day operations, and our demo showcased how RipsyTech is committed to making these processes as seamless as possible.
Frustrations with Switching EHR Systems
A significant pain point shared by many attendees at AACAP 2024 was the frustration of switching to large, complex EHR systems that disrupt practice operations. Providers spoke about the overwhelming transition process, which often interrupts their workflow and patient care. In response, we highlighted RipsyTech’s dedication to providing not only user-friendly solutions but also complimentary business consulting to ensure a seamless transition.
Our consulting services are designed to guide providers through every step of the process, from initial setup to full implementation, minimizing downtime and reducing the stress of switching systems. With our support, providers can focus on delivering quality care to their patients, confident that their EHR system will enhance—rather than hinder—their operations.
The RipsyTech team poses at their AACAP 2024 booth, surrounded by giveaways, business cards, and informative materials for attendees.
Mental Health Business Moment of the Week
In this week’s business moment, we talked about how mental health providers can maintain patient care while attending a conference. For many clinicians, stepping away from daily operations can feel daunting, but setting clear expectations helps. One strategy our CEO Tom Tarshis used was a "pseudo vacation responder" to let patients know about limited availability, offering alternative communication methods like texting for urgent matters. This allows a clinician to attend conferences without compromising patient care.
Conclusion
AACAP 2024 was a fantastic opportunity to see the best of what conferences offer—both for providers and companies like RipsyTech. The networking, recruitment, and learning experiences alone make it worthwhile, but it’s the deeper, more personal connections that leave a lasting impact. If you’ve been considering attending a conference as a clinician or practice owner, there’s no better time to get involved. The benefits, from professional growth to cutting-edge innovations, can help elevate your practice to the next level.
Stay tuned for more insight and stories in next week’s blog post!
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