Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1 in 54 children in the United States, and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a widely used form of autism therapy that has been shown to be effective in improving outcomes for children with autism. The number of ABA therapy providers in the United States has grown significantly in recent years, with an estimated 20,000 providers currently offering ABA therapy services. Additionally, the autism therapy market in the United States is projected to grow from $2.2 billion in 2020 to $3.6 billion in 2026, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.4%. These statistics indicate the urgent need for better tools and technologies to support autism therapy.
EHRs, practice management companies, and billing companies have a unique opportunity to participate in the growth of the autism therapy market by prioritizing the development of autism therapy modules within their platforms. These modules would provide specialized data collection, analytics, and graphs to support ABA therapy sessions, helping therapists track progress and adjust treatment plans as needed.
ABA apps are already available in the market, offering specialized features such as data collection, behavior tracking, and customizable programs. However, many of these apps operate independently of EHRs, practice management systems, and billing systems, creating a fragmented experience for therapists and families. By integrating these features into existing platforms, EHRs, practice management companies, and billing companies can offer a more seamless and comprehensive solution for autism therapy providers.
There are two options for EHRs, practice management companies, and billing companies looking to offer autism therapy modules: Build or Buy. Building an autism therapy module from scratch requires significant investment in research, development, and testing. It may provide greater control and customization over the final product but can take years. On the other hand, partnering with an existing ABA app offers a quicker time-to-market and potentially lower costs.
One example of an existing ABA app that offers a comprehensive autism therapy management platform is ZigZag. ZigZag is specially designed for autism therapy and offers rich features such as data collection, progress tracking, reporting and customizable treatment plans. ZigZag also offers an easy-to-integrate API platform and features such as single sign-on, allowing for seamless integration into existing workflows.
In conclusion, the growth of the autism therapy market and the urgent need for better tools and technologies make it a high priority for EHRs, practice management companies, and billing companies to prioritize the development of autism therapy modules. By offering specialized features within their platforms, these companies can provide a more comprehensive solution for autism therapy providers and improve outcomes for children with autism. Partnering with existing ABA apps such as ZigZag can offer a faster time-to-market and lower costs while still providing a robust solution.
For more information about how you can leverage ZigZag autism solution within your ecosystem please check out Partners | ZigZag for Autism (zigzagkid.com)
You can also reach out the author of this blog and co-founder Dipti Bhide @ dipti@zigzagkid.com