title: Results of a statewide evaluation of "paperwork burden" in addiction treatment.
abstract: This article chronicles three steps taken by research, clinical, and state staff toward assessing, evaluating, and streamlining clinical and administrative paperwork at all public outpatient addiction treatment programs in one state. The first step was an accounting of all paperwork requirements at each program. The second step included the development of time estimates for the paperwork requirements; synthesis of information across sites; providing written evaluation of the need, utility, and redundancy of all forms (paperwork) collected; and suggestions for eliminating unused or unnecessary data collection and streamlining the remaining data collection. Thirdly, the state agency hosted a meeting with the state staff, researchers, and staff from all programs and agencies with state-funded contracts and took action. Paperwork reductions over the course of a 6-month outpatient treatment episode were estimated at 4 to 6 hours, with most of the time burden being eliminated from the intake process.
authors.affiliation: Treatment Research Institute, Public Ledger Building, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3475, USA. dcarise@tresearch.org
authors.forename: Deni
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carise
authors.forename: Meghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Love
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zur
authors.forename: A Thomas
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: McLellan
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kemp
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D003691:Delaware; D004282:Documentation; D006801:Humans; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors