Financial efficacy of clinical assessment: rational guidelines and issues for future research.
Whereas the financial efficacy of assessment has been well documented in industrial/organizational settings, there is no comparable literature within the field of clinical assessment. This has become a significant issue due to the increasing cost-consciousness of managed health care organizations. A rational means of increasing the financial efficacy of assessment is outlined, which includes the following: (a) focus on domains most relevant to treatment planning and outcome; (b) use formal assessment for risk management; (c) target problems most likely to result in cost savings (i.e., dissociation, somatization, panic); (d) increase the use of computer-assisted assessment; (e) use time-efficient instruments; (f) more closely link assessment, feedback, and therapy; and (g) integrate treatment planning, monitoring progress, and evaluating outcome. Issues and strategies for developing a research program include clearly defining what should be considered a cost, enumerating possible outcome variables, optimal follow-up time frame, selection of instruments, and the function of assessment.
Groth-Marnat
G
G
Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA, Australia.
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011586:Psychology, Clinical / Q000191:economics*