Improving ATOD services in Los Angeles County

The Network for the Improvement of Addiction Treatment (NIATx) improves client access and retention in addiction treatment. The four aims of this evidence-based program include reducing waiting times and no-shows and increasing admissions and continuation rates. Its proven success inspired the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Alcohol and Drug Program Administration (LA County DPH ADPA) to partner with the Pacific Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (PSATTC) and NIATx to utilize NIATx principles in a Process Improvement Pilot Project (PIPP) to make small but effective changes to improve addiction treatment in LA County. Six treatment agencies in seven sites participated in Phase I of PIPP. Launching in November 2005, the project sought to determine whether process improvement methods could be effectively implemented with little support and no financial assistance to the agencies, evaluate commitment to the methodology after the pilot project, identify key components leading to success, and use data gathered to gauge the level of improvement. Quantitative measurement and analysis of the implementation, conducted by PSATTC, indicated remarkable overall improvements in client retention and engagement in Phase I of PIPP, completed in September 2006. Enthusiasm for PIPP was evident when two agencies involved in Phase I requested participation in Phase II, which began in February 2008. Additionally, enrollment for Phase II increased to ten centers and twelve sites. Review of Phase I data indicated room for improvements, currently being implemented and tested in Phase II, for an anticipated completion in Fall 2008.