title: Measuring program performance in methadone treatment using in-treatment outcomes: an illustration.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hubbard
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dunteman
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Fountain
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Czechowicz
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: 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