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Presented at the 19th Annual Research Conference

Closing the Loop on Service Quality to Realize Data-Based Decision-Making

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Session Number: 51 Room: Salon H

Presentation Type: symposium

Chair: Melanie A. Barwick Discussant: Patrick J. Kanary

Synopsis: The symposium seeks to extend our thinking from discovery research, to implementation science, to data-based decision-making as a necessary component in the cycle of improving systems of care in children’s mental health. This journey is told through four presentations that describe the challenges inherent in developing system-wide accountability in Maryland (Patel), the vision for data-based decision-making in the Ontario system of care (Barwick), the success achieved in organizational data-based decision-making at the Barber Institute (Curcio), and the solution-focused process-based CQI tool that has made these successes possible and that holds promise for data-based decision-making in both individual organizations and in systems of care.

Date: Friday, February 24, 2006

Session Time: 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Presentation Time: 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

The Struggle to Develop Accountability: Provider-Policymaker Perspectives on Implementing Standardized Outcomes in Maryland

Download Handouts: 498kb pdf

Presenting: Vaishali Patel

All Authors for this paper: Vaishali Patel

Presentation Type: element of symposium

Synopsis: This qualitative study examined stakeholders’ perspectives regarding the use of outcomes data. Based upon an analysis of 35 semi-structured interviews with staff from provider organizations that provide out-of-home care services to children and youth, 11 semi-structured interviews with state policymakers, and observations of meetings, efforts to establish accountability and inform decision-making using outcomes data are stymied by barriers at the organizational and state level. Within organizations, staff struggled to make sense of the data collected, and policymakers struggled to coordinate the development of a state-wide outcomes system. Conflicting visions and concerns regarding the role of pay-for-performance contribute to this struggle.

Continuous Quality Improvement and Data-Based Decision-Making in Children’s Mental Health: A System of Care Perspective

Download Handouts: 520kb pdf

Presenting: Melanie Barwick

All Authors for this paper: Melanie Barwick; H. Bruce Ferguson

Presentation Type: element of symposium

Synopsis: Training and implementation of screening (Brief Child and Family Phone Interview) and outcome measurement tools (CAFAS) mandated in 2000 across 107 organizations has laid the groundwork for describing the mental health problems of children and youth who seek service, evidence-based triaging of wait listed clients, and determining treatment response. In order to ensure quality children’s mental health service, providers must move beyond outcome measurement and close the data loop – they must engage in continuous quality improvement and engage in data-based decision-making. The planned project seeks to demonstrate the utility of a process based CQI tool that serves to ensure that service data is used to improve service quality. The tool, TOTAL:Quality, is being implemented and evaluated in two service provider organizations. A scan of CQI practices across the province is also underway. Study implications for large scale implementation of CQI practices are discussed. Partnership and funding activities are underway.

Quality Management from an Organizational Perspective

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Presenting: David Rumberger

All Authors for this paper: David Rumberger; A. Chris Curcio; Paul DeSante

Presentation Type: element of symposium

Synopsis: Defining and measuring “quality” within a community-based organization providing services and supports to children and adults with developmental disabilities is explored. The concept of incorporation of proven business practices into the social service arena can change the overall culture of the organization and can illustrate the agency commitment to best practices through methodologies that are both efficient and efficacious. The “management by mouse” approach is also investigated in terms of using a computer support system to assist in giving administrative and management staff the ability to use real-time data to analyze the overall change process and to celebrate the success of employees within the organization.

TOTAL: Quality - Information Technology Support for Organizational Quality Management, Implications for System of Care Evaluation, Management and Improvement

Download Handouts: 983kb pdf

Presenting: David Rumberger

All Authors for this paper: David Rumberger

Presentation Type: element of symposium

Synopsis: The focus of this brief presentation will be an overview of TOTAL:Quality as a solution to data-based decision making for systems of care and human service organizations. TOTAL: Quality is a web-based software solution from Esteam©. This unique software solution provides matchless support for Continuous Quality Improvement process (CQI).