Reclaiming Time for What Matters: How The House Next Door Uses AI to Revolutionize the Staff Experience

Introduction

Our staff love the simplicity of the program… Bells helped us reduce time spent documenting by 60%."

Jennifer Nadelkov CEO, The House Next Door

At The House Next Door, a Florida-based organization specializing in behavioral health and child and family services, time is one of the most precious resources. However, clinical documentation was taking up significant time and energy, leaving providers with little room for professional development, meaningful patient interactions, and even a healthy work-life balance. Like many healthcare organizations, they sought a solution to streamline documentation without sacrificing quality. Their answer came in the form of an innovative AI solution—Bells.

Challenges

The House Next Door faced several common healthcare challenges:

• Excessive time spent on clinical documentation
• Rigid requirements for effective documentation to meet billing needs
• Limited time for staff professional development and meaningful work

These issues were not only affecting their staff’s job satisfaction but also limiting the number of appointments they could offer to clients. Jennifer Nadelkov, the CEO, knew that something had to change:

“With staff as our greatest asset, we knew we had to do something to reduce the heavy burden of paperwork,” Ms. Nadelkov said. “Our goal was to reduce documentation time by 50%.”

The Solution: Implementing Bells

In their search for a solution, The House Next Door turned to Bells, a clinical documentation tool designed to augment and simplify the entire documentation lifecycle. From progress notes during client sessions to reviews and reimbursements, Bells seamlessly supports providers through each step.

The implementation of this AI solution exceeded their expectations.

"We learned about Bells and it sounded too good to be true. Thankfully, it was even better than what we had hoped for," said Nadelkov.

By integrating Bells, the organization significantly reduced the amount of time clinicians spent on documentation, freeing them up to focus on their core mission: providing excellent care.

Results: A 60% Reduction in Documentation Time

One of the most remarkable outcomes of this transformation was a 60% reduction in time spent on documentation—exceeding their original goal of a 50% reduction. With this improvement, staff are now able to dedicate more time to other important activities, including professional development and, perhaps most importantly, their personal lives.

"By cutting the time spent on progress notes by 60%, staff can dedicate that time to other activities—even if that means going home on time without administrative work carrying into the next day."

Furthermore, with the help of Bells, clinicians can engage more fully with clients during sessions. The tool’s assisted data capture features allow them to remain present and focused on the individuals in front of them, enhancing the quality of care.

Automation and AI: Results That Speak for Themselves

The House Next Door’s adoption of Bells has not only improved staff morale but also made the organization more efficient and competitive in an increasingly fast-paced healthcare environment.

The benefits have been twofold:

1. Average session-to-sign time dropped to just 2.86 hours.
2. Create-to-sign time for progress notes decreased to just 3 minutes.

These time-saving improvements have had a ripple effect across the organization, leading to more client appointments, better care and happier, more engaged staff.

Bells: A Win-Win Solution

The House Next Door’s experience with Bells is a shining example of how innovative technology can transform an organization. By reducing the burden of clinical documentation, The House Next Door has been able to reclaim time for what matters most—caring for clients and supporting their staff.

As Jennifer Nadelkov summarizes, "Our staff love the simplicity of the program and its ability to help them stay organized. We are very proud to announce that Bells helped us reduce time spent documenting by 60%."

By embracing clinical AI, The House Next Door not only improved operational efficiency but also enhanced the lives of both their clients and staff.