MOPS Internal Trainings

Date: 3/7/26 @ 11am-2pm (EST) Cost: NA Instructor: Tatia Williams, Psy.D., LPCC-S, Psychologist

CE Credit Hours: 3

Training Description:

This 3-hour continuing education training is designed for mental health professionals seeking to strengthen their diagnostic assessment skills while effectively utilizing the Athena electronic medical record (EMR) system. Participants will review best practices for conducting comprehensive, clinically sound diagnostic evaluations, including gathering relevant biopsychosocial information, applying DSM-5-TR criteria, and developing accurate diagnoses and initial treatment recommendations.

The training will also provide hands-on guidance for translating clinical data into clear, compliant, and efficient documentation within Athena EMR. Emphasis will be placed on medical necessity, risk assessment, differential diagnosis, and aligning documentation with regulatory, ethical, and payer expectations. Through case examples and applied practice, participants will enhance both clinical reasoning and documentation proficiency.

Goals:

1. Enhance clinicians’ ability to conduct thorough, evidence-based diagnostic assessments that support accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
2. Increase proficiency in documenting diagnostic evaluations within Athena EMR in a manner that is clinically meaningful, compliant, and efficient.

Objectives:

• Identify the core components of a comprehensive diagnostic assessment, including biopsychosocial history, symptom presentation, and functional impairment.
• Apply DSM-5-TR criteria to formulate accurate diagnoses and develop appropriate differential diagnoses.
• Demonstrate best practices for assessing risk (e.g., suicidality, homicidality, safety concerns) and documenting findings clearly.
• Translate clinical assessment data into structured, compliant documentation within the Athena EMR system.
• Describe how to document medical necessity and clinical rationale to meet ethical, legal, and payer requirements.
• Utilize efficient workflows and templates within Athena to improve documentation quality and reduce administrative burden.

Workshop Outline:

11-11:10 Welcome, Introductions, Training Overview

• Review of training goals and learning objectives
• Overview of Athena EMR relevance to clinical assessment

11:10-11:30 Core components of a comprehensive diagnostic assessment

• Biopsychosocial assessment framework
• Identifying presenting problems and functional impairment
• Incorporating cultural, developmental, and contextual factors
• Medical necessity and level of care considerations

11:30-12:00 Diagnostic Formulation and Differential Diagnosis

• Applying DSM-5-TR criteria
• Rule-outs, specifiers, and comorbidities
• Common diagnostic pitfalls and how to avoid them

12:00-12:20 Risk Assessment and Clinical Decision-Making

• Suicide and homicide risk assessment best practices
• Documentation of risk, protective factors, and clinical judgment
• Legal and ethical considerations

12:20-12:30 BREAK

12:30-1:45 Documenting the Diagnostic Assessment in Athena EMR

• Translating clinical data into structured documentation
• Required fields and best-practice language
• Demonstration of Athena workflows and templates
• Aligning documentation with compliance and payer expectations

1:45-2 Wrap Up, Questions, Follow Up Tasks

Level: Foundational

Mid-Ohio Psychological Services, Inc. has been approved as a Continuing Education Provider by the Ohio Psychological Association (OPA) (#311358292) and NBCC ACEP^TM No. 7265. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE programs approved by OPA and NBCC are accepted by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage & Family Therapist Board.