Over the past three years, Mental Health Corporations of Massachusetts, Inc., a statewide trade association, has developed and managed an Outcomes Measurement Project. The project has 44 participating agencies, primarily outpatient mental health clinics, and has thus far collected data on over 12,000 adult clients. The rate of managed care penetration typically exceeds 70 percent in these clinics, and the data document the fact that poverty and disability rates are quite high. Before seeing a clinician the client completes an instrument that includes questions on demographics, psychiatric history, co-morbid medical conditions and stress, as well as baseline measures of psychosocial functioning and symptoms. The instrument has demonstrated good reliability and concurrent validity in a range of client populations. Following the fourth treatment session the client completes a follow-up version of the instrument that includes measures of functioning and symptoms as well as satisfaction.This presentation will examine the goals and methodology of the project, focusing on an analysis of demographic and outcome data on nearly 8,000 clients seen in one year. Results demonstrate that clients show significant improvement on 14 of 15 clinical domains. Client characteristics associated with positive and negative outcomes will be discussed. Outcome data can be adjusted for case mix variables that include initial severity, stressful events and co-morbid medical conditions. These case mix adjustments permit providers to develop meaningful comparisons between their own clients and larger state and national population benchmarks. The presentation will also discuss using outcome data to assist in risk management and quality improvement.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation attendees will understand that 1)It is possible to collect behavioral healthcare outcomes in outpatient agencies that serve poor, disabled clients; 2)Most clients show measurable improvement following four treatment sessions; 3)Individual and benchmarked outcomes can be used to manage risk and improve quality
Keywords: Outcomes Research, Managed Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Access Measurement Systems, Inc
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am a customer of Access Measurement Systems