One Mission, One Platform: Rosecrance Unifies Care to Support Whole-Person Recovery

Rosecrance has built a trusted legacy of compassionate service, clinical excellence and innovation in behavioral health and addiction treatment. Operating across 60 locations in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, Rosecrance serves more than 70,000 individuals annually through a full continuum of care, spanning residential treatment to community-based recovery services. Their mission is simple and profound: to deliver hope and healing through personalized, whole-person care.

Yet, as demand for addiction treatment continues to rise and the complexity of care grows, Rosecrance recognized that delivering on this mission would require more than dedication. Success would require effective application of key consumer data.

The Problem

Even the most dedicated teams can struggle without the right tools. As client needs evolved, so did the pressure on staff to coordinate care across fragmented systems. Rosecrance knew that relying on outdated or disconnected technology posed serious challenges. Concerns like limited insight into clinical outcomes, duplicative documentation and barriers to timely intervention needed to be dealt with now, not down the line.

“Addiction and mental health challenges often go hand in hand,” said Denise Popp, Senior Director of Technology at Rosecrance. “We needed a system that could keep up with how people actually experience care—not in silos, but as whole people with complex needs.”

Internally, the organization was also working to support clinicians facing burnout, funding uncertainties and increased documentation demands. They needed a solution to help eliminate friction for both staff and clients, without sacrificing data accuracy or compliance.

The Solution

To address these challenges, Rosecrance partnered with Netsmart to implement a unified, enterprise-wide electronic health record (EHR) system. This centralized technology platform allows staff to manage care holistically, using near real-time clinical and social data to inform each step of a client's recovery journey.

From the outset, the focus of everyone involved was on empowering care. “We worked closely with Netsmart to grab the necessary clinical data but not make it an overwhelming process on the front end,” said Popp. The result was a streamlined intake process designed to reduce barriers for clients—particularly at their most vulnerable moments.

Instead of waiting for payer approvals or intake queues, clients are immediately connected by phone, in-person or via telehealth. Rosecrance built out a robust virtual care infrastructure, including 24/7 tele-admissions, counseling and group sessions. “We want to help them as soon as possible,” said Popp.

On the back end, the EHR supports multidisciplinary coordination across services like therapy, case management and substance use treatment—ensuring that each client receives tailored support from day one. A shared longitudinal record now spans physical, behavioral and addiction care, enabling seamless handoffs across departments and programs.

Importantly, clinicians were brought into the decision-making process from the start. “We need to hear from business owners and clinical leads on how they want the technology to facilitate care,” reports Kelly Epperson, Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel at Rosecrance. “It’s about having all your stakeholders at the table.”

The Result

By unifying its systems and aligning technology with its mission, Rosecrance transformed how care is delivered and how success is measured.

Predictive analytics now help identify at-risk clients early, enabling proactive outreach before crises escalate. “When we see a few no-shows, we don’t wait,” said Popp. “We reach out because we know from the data that those are warning signs. It’s about intervening before someone ends up in the emergency room.”

Through a partnership with Northern Illinois University, Rosecrance also conducts independent studies to evaluate treatment outcomes, tracking progress across legal, social and personal development metrics.

Integrated systems allow Rosecrance to compare programs, assess what models are working and make strategic decisions with clarity. “We’re innovating rapidly,” said Epperson. “Now we want to make sure it’s working and that our clients are getting better.”

By reducing friction, unifying records and ensuring stakeholders are part of the process, Rosecrance has created a care experience that’s more connected, responsive and perhaps most importantly, human.

Rosecrance shows that recovery is not just possible, but with the right data put into action, it’s personal. By embracing data and technology without losing sight of their mission, the organization continues to set a powerful example of what modern addiction treatment can be. With one platform and one mission, Rosecrance is redefining what it means to support whole-person care.