Using information about patient progress in supervision: Are outcomes enhanced?

It is surprising and even ironic that clinical supervision is frequently co nducted in the absence of systematic monitoring of patient progress. The us e of a monitoring system that provides feedback to trainees and focuses att ention on potential treatment failures is described. Potential advantages o f such a practice include continued session attendance, enhanced outcome, a nd its ability to complement the goals considered essential to clinical sup ervision. Recommendations include routine use of patient tracking with supe rvision that focuses on the "failing" patient. Supervision may thus become a routine and integral part of treatment to prevent failure and enhance the quality of clinical services.