Culture shock and synergy. Academic/managed care/corporate alliances in outcomes management.
The Behavioral Health Outcomes Study is a partnership in conducting outcomes measurement involving a corporate healthcare purchaser, five managed behavioral healthcare organizations and academic researchers. The goals of this study are to: evaluate the feasibility of incorporating patient self-reported data in outcomes research; identify factors that may be predictors of outcome; and evaluate the effectiveness of an employee-sponsored aftercare program. The differing perspectives and needs of the three partners have created a number of challenges in the areas of goals, confidentiality, proprietary vs. open access issues and methodology. However, after the study's first year, it is clear not only that outcomes research can be conducted under such a partnership, but that the partnership generates a kind of synergy in problem-solving.
Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458.
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Berman
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Darling
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Hurt
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Hunkeler
D003219:Confidentiality; D003625:Data Collection; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D006265:Health Care Coalitions; D007221:Industry; D008329:Managed Care Programs; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012107:Research Design; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities