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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Janice Pringle, PhD, Institute for Research, Education, and Training in Addictions, 425 Sixth Ave, Suite 1710, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, 412-258-8556, pringlej@ireta.org

Federal (via the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)), state and commercial payers are all examining ways they can improve the effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Some of these efforts have taken the form of imposing performance measures, process improvement strategies, and specific training initiatives. Unfortunately, none of these efforts alone have resulted in demonstrated improvements in the quality and efficiency of SUD treatment that has been sustained or spread from a few examples within a few treatment programs. The paper will present a new performance improvement system that is based upon activities applied across four (4) system “levers”. The paper will also present the promising results of a demonstration project applying this system within a large SUD treatment system involving 400 patients, and implications for planned future work: o Reduced the amount of time between first contact and first treatment session from an average of 14 days to 48 hours. o Increased program census over a one year period by at least 50%. o Increased program revenues over a one year period by over 25%. o Reduced provider-developed redundant and unnecessary paperwork burden by approximately 40%. o Statistically significantly increased client retention (p< 0.008) over a ten month period. o Significantly increased referral source satisfaction. o Impressive clinical outcomes for adjudicated clients - 84% had ceased drug and alcohol use, 60% were employed, 92% had no probation or parole violation and 100% were stably housed six months after discharge.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the learner will be able to

• Discuss innovative procedures to improve clinical outcomes. 2)Identify possible barriers to the implementation of a successful performance monitoring program. 3)Apply a system of performance measurement specific to their own program/clinical setting.

Keywords: Performance Measurement, Treatment Outcomes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered