When Gateway Community Service Board moved away from paper records in 2012, it set them up for far more than
just streamlined documentation. Their shift to Therap’s electronic system supplied the organization with the
framework and tools they needed to provide more proactive and informed supports to individuals across eight
Georgia counties. By recognizing early on that digital tools could unlock new levels of oversight and
clinical precision, Gateway has been able to continuously modernize their processes without ever losing
sight of their primary focus: providing impactful services to the people they support.
Rufus Johnson, the Chief IDD Clinical Officer at Gateway, has witnessed the impact of Therap firsthand
for over a decade. He recalls that while there was some initial apprehension about the switch from paper
to Therap, staff quickly realized the benefits. “Once staff got over the fear of going electronic, they
found out how easy Therap was and how it bettered their documentation. Now, everything is typed,
everything is neat, everything is in the right format,” Johnson says. The transition simplified
day‑to‑day operations and allowed staff to reclaim time previously spent on manual
record‑keeping. “It's
so great to be able to get the data. Everything is in one spot now. It's a time saver,” Johnson says.
“The use of time for our staff now is much better than it was when they had to sit there and write on
paper all day.”
In addition to time savings, Gateway has achieved more informed decision making. For Johnson, the
real‑time
access to data Therap provides is essential to effective clinical management. He shares that before using
Therap, decisions were often made based on anecdotal evidence or intuition. “In the past, you had to go off
of what you thought was right. Now you have the data to support what you want to change,” Johnson explains.
Therap’s reporting tools make it simple for him and his team to access and analyze information. “I can get
all the data from all the programs and we can use it to make decisions,” he says.
This access to data is also vital for effective oversight, maintaining compliance, and preparing for audits.
“Having a system that we can use to pull the information makes it easier to go through audits so we're in
compliance, and when we're not, we're able to fix it easily,” Johnson says. “Policies, procedures, and
everything we do is lined up in Therap.”
For Johnson, the most rewarding aspect of using Therap hasn’t been the administrative ease, but the
improvements Gateway has observed in the lives of the individuals they support. Therap’s tools for tracking
health metrics empower the clinical team with consistent data they can use to identify trends, share data
with health professionals, and provide proactive supports. "From the health standpoint, having those records
to share with doctors has helped us recognize if we need to make any change to [individuals’] diets or
exercise," says Johnson. “It has allowed them to have a better life. People are living longer because we're
able to make informed decisions about their health care."
With over a decade of success using Therap, Gateway's experience is a testament to the power of embracing
change. Although daunting at first, Johnson claims the switch to Therap was a catalyst for better processes
and supports. “Therap opens so many doors. It gives you a better sense of how to adequately move through all
the documentation of caring for people with I/DD,” he says.
For more information on how Therap can help your organization streamline documentation and provide better
supports, schedule a demo today.
From Binders to Better Care:
Gateway Community Service Board’s Therap Experience
Transitioning to a Unified System
Informed Decisions and Effective Oversight
Impact on Individuals
Embracing Change, Enhancing Supports
People are living longer because we're able to make informed decisions about their health care.
Therap opens so many doors. It gives you a better sense of how to adequately move through all the
documentation of caring for people with I/DD.