How AI and Innovation Help Treatment Centers Grow | Behavioral Health CRM
June 22, 2025
Summary:
In this episode of Center Stage, we sit down with Chris Bennett, founder and CEO of Ava Health, to explore how technology and collaboration can transform behavioral health care for underserved communities.
Chris shares his personal journey from struggling adolescent to behavioral health entrepreneur, and how those experiences shaped his mission to build better, more accessible care.
Key Takeaways:
Focus on underserved populations - Ava Health was founded to bring high-quality, full-continuum behavioral health services to rural and Medicaid populations, addressing critical gaps in access.
Start by listening to communities - Rather than building a solution in isolation, Ava Health’s model was designed after extensive conversations with state and local stakeholders to understand real needs.
Use technology and AI to lower costs and improve care - Chris details how automation, AI-driven compliance, and smart marketing data help reduce operational costs while enhancing staff effectiveness and patient outcomes.
Build transparency and accountability into the culture - Ava Health is committed to building in public, openly sharing wins, failures, and operational decisions to encourage industry-wide learning and improvement.
Bridge mission and margin with thoughtful design - Chris emphasizes that operational excellence, technology, and smart resource allocation allow treatment programs to serve underserved populations sustainably without sacrificing quality.
Collaborate for true innovation - Innovation in behavioral health comes from working together across different viewpoints and challenging existing beliefs - not from staying isolated or defensive.
Prepare for a future of technology-first operations - Chris sees the future of behavioral health driven by operators who can successfully integrate technology, data, and human-centered care to create scalable, high-impact solutions.
