Kelly Riffey, Bureau Chief

Performance Improvement Initiatives
Through data collection and quality management activities, ADHS identifies areas in which to focus performance improvement efforts.

Performance Improvement Projects
ADHS has identified the need to implement several performance improvement projects to target specific areas for improvement.  Project topics are determined through the use of data collection and analysis and include both clinical and non-clinical topics. Projects are considered complete when a year of sustainable improvement has been demonstrated.

Current project topics include:

• Psychotropic Medication Use in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults
• Psychotropic Medication Poly-Pharmacy Performance Improvement Project
• The Child and Family Team
• Child and Family Team Performance Improvement Project Proposal

Click here to access the ADHS/DBHS Practice Protocols webpage.
Click here to access the ADHS/DBHS Performance Improvement Project Proposals and Reports.

Performance Measures
ADHS provides oversight of Contractor activities by establishing measures with benchmarks for performance. The following performance measures have been established to evaluate the quality of the care provided to Title XIX/XXI consumers:

• Access to Care/Appointment Availability

• Coordination of care with acute Contractors/PCPs

• Sufficiency of assessments

• Consumer/family involvement

• Cultural competency

• Appropriateness of services

• Informed consent

• Quality clinical outcomes

Click here to access the ADHS/DBHS Performance Improvement Specification Manual.
Click here to access ADHS/DBHS Performance Improvement Quarterly Reports.
 

Annual Consumer Survey
On an annual basis, ADHS participates in the MHSIP consumer survey to determine consumer satisfaction related to the behavioral health system.  Results are analyzed and compared to other monitoring mechanisms to identify areas for improvement.

Click here to access the ADHS/DBHS 2006 Consumer Survey.
 

Outcome Measures
ADHS currently collects data related to outcomes for the child population through its demographic data system.  Child and Family Teams are required to assess and report on the following outcomes every six months:

• Success in school
• Increased stability in family and living conditions
• Decreased criminal justice involvement
• The child’s ability to become a stable and productive adult
• Lives with family
• Increased stability
• Decrease in safety risks

Click here for more information on the JK Measures.

The following indicators are in the process of being pilot-tested to assess ADHS’ ability to measure outcomes for individuals determined to have a serious mental illness:

• Increase in/retention of employment
• Increased stability in living situation
• Increased social support of recovery
• Reduced utilization of psychiatric inpatient beds
• Decreased criminal justice involvement
• Increased access to services