Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #120917

Steve Davis, PhD¹, Tracy Leeper, MA², and Mark Reynolds, EdD². (1) Director, Decision Support Services, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, P.O. Box 3277, Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3277, (405) 522-3813, sdavis@odmhsas.org, (2) Decision Support Services, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, P.O. Box 3277, Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3277

Over two years ago, Oklahoma initiated a system to measure and improve the performance of State-funded substance abuse treatment agencies, using a quarterly Regional Performance Management Report on identification of eligible persons and their initiation and engagement in substance abuse treatment. Each reporting cycle, RPM data is analyzed in an iterative process with the substance abuse service providers, to explain regional differences and promote a “culture of performance improvement.” Providers explain results and propose corrective actions, and later reports evaluate the impact of implemented improvements. A planned expansion of Medicaid substance abuse services will include a performance and outcomes monitoring system integrating DMHSAS and Medicaid data.

Over the past two years, the rate of identification, i.e., persons meeting DMHSAS eligibility criteria and receiving services during the quarter, has steadily increased from 6.7% to 9%. For outpatient services over the past two years, initiation following a first outpatient service has remained relatively constant at 75%, and engagement in outpatient treatment ranged from 60%-66.4%. Data on other levels of care will also be presented.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will learn about the steps needed in a State substance abuse agency performance monitoring system and the procedures conducive to creating positive feedback and adaptive reactions that lead to quality improvement.

Keywords: Substance Abuse Treatment, Quality Improvement

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation