IMPLEMENTING OUTCOMES MANAGEMENT-SYSTEMS IN MENTAL-HEALTH SETTINGS

Outcomes management has received considerable attention in the literat ure on mental health services delivery. However, relatively little pra ctical information is available on how to implement an outcomes manage ment system in the mental health care setting. The authors review seve n key issues that must be addressed in planning such a system: involvi ng senior organizational leaders in ownership of the project, securing the support of clinicians and patients, selecting personnel to operat e the system, choosing outcomes assessment instruments, developing dat a collection procedures, selecting techniques for data management, and using the data to improve outcomes. Ultimately, an outcomes managemen t system is intended to generate data that can be used to stimulate di scussion, to guide clinicians in tailoring treatments, and to identify efficient treatment approaches.