Okay, behavioral health leaders: What if we told you that you need to switch EHRs, pursue CARF accreditation, stand up a crisis center, and transition to CCBHC status—all at the same time.
You’d probably tell us to get lost. And we’d understand. 😅
But this was the reality for Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center in Douglas County, Kansas. They managed every one of those initiatives simultaneously—and managed them well. And in the midst of all those seismic shifts, they added one more thing to their already full plate: Implementing AI. Because why not?
On a recent episode of the No Notes podcast, Bert Nash’s Marsha Page-White, LSCSW, Senior Director of Community-Based Services, Nicole Stafford, LSCSW, LCSW, Clinical Consultant for EHR, and Tim Nolte, RHIA, Director of Quality Improvement (former Clinical & Business Operations Analyst), sat down with host Dr. Denny Morrison to share how they made it work—and how Eleos’ purpose-built AI platform helped them significantly improve:
- Documentation timeliness,
- Client attendance, and
- Staff well-being.
If you’re planning (or even considering) an AI implementation in your org, the full episode is worth a listen—or you can start with the highlights below.
“AI Overlords” and Dispelling Myths
As you might expect, Bert Nash’s staff didn’t exactly celebrate the idea of rolling out an AI solution on top of everything else they had going on. Change fatigue was real. They were mastering a new EHR, adapting to new programs and requirements, and still trying to keep up with their day-to-day clinical work.
At first, the thought of introducing an AI tool felt like “one more thing.” Page-White said some colleagues even “questioned our sanity.”
Part of that hesitation came from being overwhelmed—but some of it also came from misunderstandings about AI itself. As Stafford joked, staff were worried about “AI overlords.” While the comment was lighthearted, it reflected genuine concerns stemming from common misconceptions about AI and what AI-powered tools actually do.
Those hesitations quickly lifted once the Eleos implementation team arrived. They walked Bert Nash’s staff through:
- What AI is (and isn’t)—including the difference between artificial intelligence and augmented intelligence;
- How Eleos captures and synthesizes information;
- What data is and isn’t stored; and
- How Eleos ensures clinicians retain full control and oversight.
Once clinicians actually saw the product in action, everything changed.
“We’re often promising a lot of different things,” Nolte explained. “Actually achieving that was something that the Eleos product did right away—and I think our staff saw that rather quickly.”
And that matters. As Dr. Morrison pointed out, the industry has been promised time savings before—especially from EHRs—and those promises have rarely matched clinicians’ lived experience. So, this kind of skepticism makes sense. But with an AI partner that could demonstrate immediate, tangible benefits, Bert Nash’s clinicians quickly realized that this time, the story was different.
The Proof is in the Numbers
The positive results weren’t just anecdotal. Bert Nash saw a true return on investment (ROI) in their data, starting with decreased documentation time.
Before bringing on Eleos, leadership conducted a time study and found that staff were spending about 1.5 hours per day on documentation, with each note taking around 15 minutes to complete.
Since implementing Eleos, that number has dropped to about 5 minutes per note. For clinicians seeing five to six clients a day, that’s roughly an hour saved—every single day.
But the impact goes beyond time saved.
Before Eleos, from 2022 to 2024, Bert Nash averaged about 80% of notes completed within 24 hours (what they consider “timely”). But with Eleos in place, they:
- Hit 90% of notes completed within 24 hours for the first time in (at least) six years; and
- Sustained that 90% threshold for four consecutive months…and counting.
On top of that, Bert Nash saw a noticeable increase in client attendance post-Eleos.
Their goal as an organization is to have 20% or fewer appointments canceled or marked as no-shows.
- In 2024, they were close to their target at 21%.
- But in 2025, after implementing Eleos, cancellations plunged to 17.9%—and they’ve remained under the 20% threshold for six consecutive months.
While multiple factors influence cancellations, leadership believes Eleos was a major driver. With their documentation burden reduced, clinicians are more present with clients and more confident in their work.
“When you’re a therapist, and you feel confident, you’re going to be providing really great care to your clients,” said Stafford. “And what I’ve heard is that the Eleos product has really validated to them that they’re good clinicians.”
The Clinician Experience Behind the Data
The impressive numbers only tell part of the story. In behavioral health, a lot of the benefits associated with AI come in the form of VOI—value on investment. For clinicians at Bert Nash, that showed up as less stress, more confidence, and a healthier work–life balance.
That impact became clear just weeks into implementation. As Page-White shared, one peer support worker admitted it used to take her “about 15 minutes just to even start thinking about how to write a note.”
With Eleos, that pressure eased almost immediately. “I just put in the six bullet points [with the text input option], and it writes the note for me—and it makes sense,” the staff member told Page-White. The cognitive load of getting started disappeared, and so did the anxiety that came with it.
These stories were common across the organization. With Eleos, clinicians receive clear, structured suggestions within minutes—with either the live session audio or text input options. Instead of staring at a blank page, they see their interventions, progress, and clinical insights organized in a way that’s easy to review, edit, and finalize.
Plus, seeing their work immediately reflected back so clearly has helped clinicians feel more confident and validated.
“They’re like, ‘I didn’t realize I was such a great therapist, but apparently I am.’ And that feels really good to them,” Stafford explained.
And the impact of Eleos extends beyond the workday. Bert Nash has long championed work–life balance, and clinicians say Eleos meaningfully supports that commitment. Instead of logging in early or taking work home, they’re able to wrap up documentation before leaving for the day.
As Page-White shared, “They were just able to spend more time with their kiddos because they were [previously] doing [their documentation] at home, outside of work, and now they didn’t have to worry about that because they were done at the end of the day.”
Practical Tips for Leaders Considering an AI Solution
If you’re looking to achieve similar results with AI at your organization, consider these key takeaways from Bert Nash’s real-world experience.
1. Expect Skepticism, Face It Head On, and Frame AI as a Big Win for Your Staff
Bert Nash’s turning point was the hands-on training where clinicians saw, in real time, how much easier documentation could be.
Framing the rollout around the benefit of the AI solution to your staff—and being transparent about what the tool does and does not do—will help them warm up to the idea of adopting yet another new technology.
When you clearly show your clinicians that AI is a win for them—not just for the organization—that’s the kind of message that can cut through change fatigue.
2. Decide on Whether Adoption Is Mandatory or Optional
Bert Nash made Eleos mandatory, and leaders were quick to admit it was a little rough at first. But they also believe the decision contributed to fast, consistent adoption across teams.
If you go this route, pair the mandate with meaningful support—training, troubleshooting, and feedback loops. When you lead with enthusiasm and emphasize the tangible benefits of the tool, the sense of obligation will fade over time.
3. Leverage Early Adopters as Champions
Don’t underestimate the power of peer voices. Identify staff who are curious and open to new technology, and get them involved in the roll-out process.
“Leverage your early adopters,” Stafford emphasized. “Get those people who are really excited about it and help them be your champions. Use your experts.”
Once the tool is implemented, encourage those early adopters to share their experience openly—including both the benefits and any tips and tricks they may have for others who aren’t as tech-savvy. Excitement is contagious, and when skeptical staff members hear their peers talk about AI in a positive light, they are more likely to change their minds.
4. Connect the Dots to People, Not Just Metrics
The data is compelling. Faster, more timely documentation. Fewer no-shows and cancellations. With all that extra time and efficiency, you may be tempted to see the dollar signs in productivity gains. But what staff feel day to day may matter more than traditional ROI numbers.
At Bert Nash, time savings didn’t equate to seeing more clients. Instead, it enabled clinicians to complete other important administrative work.
“We had quite a significant number of folks who were behind on discharge summaries, caseload management, or updating their treatment plans,” Page-White explained. “So, I think we’re better in terms of keeping treatment plans updated and caseload management and that kind of stuff, but that doesn’t necessarily equate to more productivity.”
And that’s not a bad thing. It opens up a different kind of productivity—maybe not in more clinical hours, but in higher-quality care.
And as Stafford put it, “Our responsibility as an organization is to reduce the clinical or the administrative burden so they can be in front of their clients providing good care.”
When you focus on your team and what this kind of technology can do for their morale, work-life balance, and job satisfaction, the ROI and VOI naturally emerge over time through reduced turnover, more engaged clients, and better outcomes overall.
5. Understand that AI Isn’t Set It and Forget It
AI can dramatically reduce documentation burden, but it can’t replace the organizational processes and structures clinicians need to complete their notes consistently.
As Bert Nash learned, there are two distinct challenges behind timely documentation:
- The burden of documentation itself; and
- The lack of a clear structure and process that enables clinicians to complete and sign their notes within the desired window.
Eleos addressed the first issue almost immediately. Time per note dropped. Stress decreased. Confidence increased.
But the second issue still required leadership, coaching, and expectation-setting.
As Nolte explained, some clinicians had fully drafted notes sitting in the system for weeks—they simply hadn’t completed them. The problem there wasn’t the documentation burden; it was workflow, routine, and accountability.
This challenge isn’t unique to Bert Nash—it’s something many organizations face when implementing an AI solution. The technology can streamline documentation, but it can’t build internal habits or procedures on its own.
That’s why leaders benefit from strengthening their documentation processes before or alongside adopting AI—clarifying expectations, defining processes, and setting up structures that support timely note completion.
What’s Next for Bert Nash
As Bert Nash looks to the future, the team is already anticipating how new Eleos features will further reduce administrative burden and support clinical care for their team. When asked which capabilities were on their radar—group documentation, medication management, or mobile audio capture—the response was unanimous: All of them.
Group documentation, in particular, stood out as a game-changer. With dozens of group sessions happening across the organization and significant time currently spent writing group notes, Page-White, Stafford, and Nolte expect this innovation to make an immediate, meaningful difference in daily workflows.
Curious what this looks like in action? See how Gaudenzia is using Eleos for groups today.
No Better Time than Now
If Bert Nash’s story proves anything, it’s that meaningful change doesn’t require perfect timing. They added Eleos during a chaotic time in the organization—and it still made a huge impact.
As Nolte shared, “Within 6 months, we started seeing a pretty drastic impact on timeliness, cancellations, and no shows. If you need a win, this seems to be one that could help you immediately.”
While we wouldn’t necessarily recommend launching five major initiatives at once (this is our formal “don’t try this at home” warning 😉), Bert Nash’s experience shows that you don’t need perfect conditions to introduce AI in your org.
Start small. Start intentionally. Start with a goal of achieving one clear win for your clinicians. The rest will follow faster than you think.
Ready to get started? Request a personalized demo to find out how AI can make a difference in your organization.
