How do you even start measuring outcomes? One Step can help you take the first steps towards measuring outcomes
We know it can be overwhelming to start thinking about outcomes. We can help! One Step helps over 500 facilities think through what outcomes metrics they want to collect, and most importantly how they are going to collect them!
We start by sitting down with you and asking you what KPIs (Key performance indicators) you are interested in tracking. Some facilities want to measure average length of stay, % of employment post-program, substance of choice, % of success during the program (ie stay for full program with no relapses) and post-program (do they report a high quality of life, no ER visits and attendance of AA meetings). Other programs want to measure more demographic information and then try and analyze which type of person on which type of substance does the best at their program.
After we define which KPIs we want to measure, we then think about operationally, how are we going to collect this information? Who at the organization is going to be charged with collecting the data? Who at the organization is going to oversee data collection to put checks and balances in place to make sure the data is captured? Typically you want to collect data upon intake, on a weekly basis, upon discharge and 1 month, 3 months and 6 months post program. The data collection involves all departments of your facility. For information collected upon intake, there is usually one person in charge of that. For data collected during the program about how the patient is doing, this is usually handled by the clinical team. For data collected upon discharge, usually a discharge specialist collects the data. Post-program data is usually handled by the alumni department. Because so many people are involved in data collection it is helpful to have one person dedicated to making sure on a high level the processes are in place at the facility for optimal data collection. If you do not have the manpower in house for this kind of oversight, we can help. Many times, One Step steps in and managing the data collection, making sure that all parties are away of what data they are responsible for collecting and that they actually collect it.
Next, comes training your staff. If you don’t have the resources to do this in-house, we can help train staff. After you understand what data you are collecting and how to collect it, the final thing to understand is how you are going to analyze and implement any changes based on the data/feedback collected. Without this last step, data collection is meaningless. For aggregate level data, it is best if your team meets once per month to go over the data and make changes to the program based on what the data informs you of. For individual level data, for example how a patient is doing on a day to day basis, this feedback loop should be more immediate. Clinicians should look at survey results and data collected on a daily basis and adjust the treatment plan as needed.
One Step has helped over 500 facilities track outcomes data. If you would like to talk us, ask us for advice or are interested in working with us, please reach out!