Measuring program performance in methadone treatment using in-treatment outcomes: an illustration.
Quality measurement and quality assurance in substance abuse treatment have, over the past few years, become a major policy issue. In addition, there is interest in the degree to which client outcomes can play a role in measuring treatment program performance. This article discusses the movement toward outcome-based performance measurement in substance abuse treatment. Examples of the products that such a performance measurement system might produce are provided. Why outcomes must be case-mix adjusted is discussed. In addition, using data from 18 methadone programs and more than 2,000 methadone clients from the Treatment Outcome Prospective Study, an illustration of case-mix-adjusted performance measurement is provided.
Phillips
C D
CD
Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
Hubbard
R L
RL
Dunteman
G
G
Fountain
D L
DL
Czechowicz
D
D
Cooper
J R
JR
D003710:Demography; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D006801:Humans; D007591:Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States