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Presented at the 22nd Annual Research Conference

Structure and Role of Information Management in Systems of Care

Download Handouts: 849kb pdf

Session Number: 02 Room: Salon C

Presentation Type: symposium

Chair: Vicki S Effland Discussant: Knute I Rotto

Synopsis: Access to timely, accurate and comprehensive information about all aspects of a system of care is essential to achieving sustainability and providing effective services to youth and families. Choices, Inc., which manages systems of care in Indianapolis, Indiana, Cincinnati, Ohio, several sites in Maryland including Rockville and Baltimore, and Washington, DC, has developed an information management team and infrastructure that allows Choices to be accountable to it funders and community partners, identify areas for quality improvement, manage operations in multiple locations and communicate effectively about results. The symposium will be presented by Choices’ outcomes and evaluation team and financial risk manager, with discussion by Choices’ CEO to emphasize the value this information management system brings to the systems of care represented. Part 1 of this symposium will define the basic components of the information management team and infrastructure, including technology, human resources, and a supportive organizational culture. Part 2 will illustrate how this basic structure as allowed Choices to meet unique funding and reporting requirements in three states. Part 3 will focus on using information for internal decision making. Specifically, using information to manage financial resources and improve the quality of services will be discussed. Throughout the symposium, an emphasis will be placed on developing an effective information management system, regardless of whether the SOC has staff dedicated specifically to this function. The advantages and disadvantages to having internal capacity to manage this information compared to working with an external evaluation team will also be discussed.

Date: Monday, March 2, 2009

Session Time: 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Identifying Core Information Needs

We're sorry, handouts are not available for this presentation.

Presenting: Ann Klein

All Authors for this paper: Ann Klein; Vicki Effland

Presentation Type: element of symposium

Synopsis: As Choices, Inc. expanded from Indiana into Ohio and Maryland, it was faced with different local and state governmental structures, funding opportunities and challenges and accountability requirements. Choices’ internal information management system allowed it to readily adapt to these new environments and to consistently meet the information needs of its funders and partners. Examples of how the information management system adapted and evolved to meet the needs of these diverse communities will be discussed.

Quality Improvement and Decision Making

We're sorry, handouts are not available for this presentation.

Presenting: Shannon Van Deman; Rahel Tekle

All Authors for this paper: Shannon Van Deman; Rahel Tekle

Presentation Type: element of symposium

Synopsis: Access to timely and accurate information allows Choices, Inc. to respond quickly to issues that threaten the success of its systems of care and to continuously identify areas for improvement. This session will include examples of how Choices uses fiscal information to reduce costs in specified areas and the innovations that have resulted when outcomes information revealed deficiencies. The resources, relationships and support necessary to make these decisions and adjustments effectively will be emphasized.

Components of an Information Management System

We're sorry, handouts are not available for this presentation.

Presenting: Vicki Effland; Shannon Van Deman

All Authors for this paper: Vicki Effland; Shannon Van Deman

Presentation Type: element of symposium

Synopsis: In order to effectively manage a system of care, consistent access to clinical, fiscal and outcomes information is critical. Three primary components of an information management system will be introduced: 1) technology infrastructure and a comprehensive electronic database; 2) staff with the ability to manage data quality and to turn data into information; and 3) a culture that demands that decisions be based on information.