What is Outcome Measurement?
“Outcome Referrals helps us demonstrate those areas where our clinicians are doing well.
Outcome Measurement shows the value of the services we provide.”
—Director of a Psychological Services Organization
Outcome measurement scientifically documents the degree to which patients are being helped by the treatment they receive. Outcome measurement helps providers identify the areas where they produce positive results. By demonstrating improvements in patient well-being, behavioral health providers can highlight the value of their services.
TOP Outcome Measurement
TOP is a standardized, data-driven outcome measurement that reliably assesses the success of the care clinicians provide to patients. Through repeated administrations of the TOP, we use scientific measurement to document whether patients are feeling better or not. How patients are doing and how they feel over time is the ultimate measure of success.
TOP is used to assess outcomes throughout treatment
We start by quantifying a patient’s baseline well-being and providing the clinician with a full-spectrum diagnostic assessment. All measures are risk-adjusted. This initial assessment establishes the baseline status of a patient and identifies areas where clinicians can be most helpful to the patient. During treatment, outcome measurements reveal patient progress, treatment efficacy and whether or not desired outcomes are being met. Post treatment assessments highlight improvements in patient well-being that were achieved throughout treatment and help alert clinicians to any signs of relapse.
The TOP Assessment is part of all three stages of a patient’s treatment
Matching
Outcome Measurement Drives Matching
Outcome Measurement is the best way to identify clinician strengths. Matching clinicians with the patients that they can help the most is a key to better behavioral healthcare. Currently only 14% of people seeking help for behavioral health problems have positive outcomes from treatment. When patients are matched to clinicians through Outcome Referrals, a striking 80% receive the care they need.
How do we match clinicians with patients?
Our data-driven process is based on TOP’s risk-adjusted outcomes measurement which allows us to identify those areas in which a given clinician is most effective. Using this information, we match patients with clinicians who have demonstrated success in treating the specific problems of each patient. Matching clinicians with the right patient dramatically reduces the number of ineffective treatments. By eliminating these inadequate treatments, we increase the capacity to serve patients without increasing healthcare costs.
How do we identify a clinician’s strengths?
Outcome Referrals uses the number of risk-adjusted patient positive outcomes to determine a clinician’s demonstrated effectiveness. This is calculated separately for each behavioral health domain for every clinician. We take into account the severity of each condition and the life stressors of each patient when determining clinicians’ strengths.
Learn more about TOP Outcome Measurement Reports.