THE CENTRALIZED INTAKE MODEL FOR DRUG-ABUSE TREATMENT - THE ROLE OF COMPUTERIZED DATA MANAGEMENT

Several targe research programs are underway that evaluate the central ized intake model for drug abuse treatment. In this model, the drug ab use treatment facilities in a city do not operate independently; their efforts are coordinated through a small number of intake centers, whi ch handle all patient intake and data management activities. The succe ss of such a coordinated approach to drug abuse treatment depends in t arge measure upon an adequate flow of patient information. For that re ason, the centralized intake model brings new challenges for the field of computerized data management. The present article describes the ma nagement information system that is being used in a large research pro gram called the District of Columbia initiative (DCI). The methods of this system could be applied in cities where the centralized intake mo del for drug abuse treatment is adopted.