Behavioral health organizations (BHOs) need to challenge their assumptions of quality to become world-class quality programs. Because the payor environment is changing throughout the country, both private (managed care) and public (state or counties) will demand more accountability. The push for value-based purchasing is one initiative that requires a behavioral health organization to manage the care of clients by episode, diagnosis, or length of stay.
For BHOs to become world-class quality programs, it may take a page from the manufacturing industry. In an article from Quality Magazine in 2016, researchers surveyed these companies to determine the characteristics of world-class quality. The indicators mentioned included: quality as strategic and competitive; training employees, understanding performance through the customer, visible metrics on performance, and other markers. In their study, only 1.6% of their respondents had these qualities. Comparing these figures to behavioral health, BHOs need to have consistent measurements that match those of their customers (clients, stakeholders, and payors).
In an article published in World Psychiatry, Amy Kilbourne and her associates looked at how mental health is measured regarding quality. She said, “Mental disorders are common worldwide, yet the quality of care for these disorders has not increased to the same extent as that for physical conditions.” Some recommendations listed were for routine assessment of outcomes, and measurement-based care. She went on to say, “Measures are also lacking for mental health conditions commonly experienced in populations, such as anxiety disorders, and lacking in depth for evidence‐based treatments such as psychotherapy.” Improving not only the quantity of services but their effectiveness needs more precise measurements.
Moreover, the National County on Quality Assurance (NCQA) release its report in 2021 on Behavioral Health Quality Framework. In its report, one of its findings was, “BH (behavioral health) integration is inconsistently and insufficiently measured by current standardized measures. They recommend that measures must be aligned from the State and Federal governments to the managed care agencies and down to the facility level. With this level of coordination, then synchronicity of quality can occur.
In summary, for organizations to become world-class quality BHOs, they must communicate with their payors on the state and managed care level. Determining the measurements, practices, and treatments that are agreeable among all parties then coordinates the measurement of quality. Also, employees must be focused on how they impact quality. The clinician who sees a client and gives them an assessment before and after treatment needs to understand how their “paperwork” has significance to the client and the payor system.
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PRAXES is a nationwide behavioral health software, consulting, and training company. No one in the behavioral health industry has a better reputation, and if you give us the chance, we’ll show you why! At PRAXES, our services improve the efficiency and structure of behavioral health agencies serving children and families nationwide. PRAXES brings over 45 years of administrative and clinical expertise. With more than 100 client companies nationwide, we offer the expertise to advance the quality of behavioral health services. We accomplish these goals through our new clinical decision software, our training of best practices, and helping companies meet regulatory standards. At PRAXES, we believe in being creative and fostering new ways to serve children and their families. Our vision is to empower the families our agencies serve with skills that not only improve their functioning, but help them to thrive in their everyday lives. When you give us the chance, you’ll be connected directly to our friendly staff, so you can expect immediate attention to your inquiry. So, don’t wait, call now!
Dan Thorne has unique perspectives on the field of mental health. As a clinician, he has had over 40 years of experience working with clients in the Southern California area. After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Irvine, he worked with children in the Orange County Juvenile Hall. Here he honed his earliest techniques on at-risk children. After that, he obtained his Master’s degree in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton.
In the 1990’s, Dan turned his attention to the clinical and administrative side of behavioral health organizations. For three years, he was the Assistant Administrator of Starting Point, a chemical dependency facility in Costa Mesa, CA. In 2001, he took an opportunity to be the Director of Harbor View Community Services Center in Long Beach. When he arrived, the Center had only 80 clients and 13 staff. When he left, there were over 400 clients and 75 staff. Dan created several programs through their contract with the Los Angeles County Departments of Mental Health and Child and Family Services. Under his guidance, Harbor View became one of the leading providers of children’s services in Los Angeles County.
While improving the results of the client’s parents at the Center, Dan reflected on his experiences as a parent. His children themselves had special needs such as mental and intellectual challenges, and Dan knew the toll it takes on the parent. In order to help the child, the parent has to be healthy. From this concept, he created his parenting program. After years of refining it, teaching it to his staff at the Center, and then taking the results and comments from these efforts, he became the developer of the current PRAXES program. It is a culmination of Dan’s personal trials and tribulations as a parent along with empirical results and research of over 40 parenting programs.
Our vision at PRAXES is to advance the strength of parents and caregivers of children with special needs (mental health, intellectual, or physical) through education, support, and empowerment. Thus, they can live healthy and functional lives while caring for the child.
Apogee is a clinical decision software designed to help behavioral health practitioners with their treatment and patient engagement. It provides evidence-based and research-based components. Not only do they consist of elements from such practices as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Seeking Safety, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Functional Behavior Analysis, but also the Intensive Models for Parents, Youth, and Children.
PRAXES has over 30 years of accreditation experience. We know what it takes to get your organization accredited. Whether it’s Joint Commission, CARF, or COA, our team can provide an evaluation of your current status and review the standards which need improvements. We will assist you with the policies, documentation, and training required to be accredited.
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