WestCare CIO Dwayne Stevens Discusses the Future of AI in Behavioral Health 

At WestCare, innovation has always been about more than adopting new technology. It is about finding better ways to support the people who provide care and, ultimately, the individuals, families and communities we serve. 

Our very own Chief Information Officer, Dwayne Stevens, recently joined the AI in Healthcare and Life Sciences Podcast from Emerj Artificial Intelligence Research for a conversation on AI and Customer Experience in Behavioral Health. 

The episode explores one of the most promising opportunities for artificial intelligence in behavioral health: giving valuable time back to clinicians. 

Administrative documentation is an essential part of quality behavioral health care, but it can also place a significant demand on providers’ time. Dwayne discusses how WestCare is exploring AI-assisted documentation within our internally developed electronic health record to help reduce that burden while keeping clinical judgment firmly in the hands of the professionals providing care. 

The conversation also takes a deeper look at how WestCare approaches AI implementation responsibly and intentionally. Dwayne shares insights into WestCare’s SPIRIT project and TOUCH framework, the importance of cross-functional collaboration and an opt-in approach designed to build trust among clinicians. 

For WestCare, technology is not about replacing the human element of behavioral health care. It is about strengthening it. 

When thoughtfully implemented, tools like AI can help reduce administrative demands, improve workflows and allow our team members to devote more of their time and attention to what matters most: connecting with and serving people. 

Dwayne’s conversation with Emerj offers an inside look at how WestCare is navigating emerging technology while keeping our mission and the human experience at the center of innovation. 

Listen to the full episode, “AI and Customer Experience in Behavioral Health – with Dwayne Stevens of WestCare,” on Emerj’s AI in Healthcare and Life Sciences Podcast: https://westcare.watch/behavioralai