QUALITY AND RESEARCH

The quality of our clinical treatment programs and the efficiency of our daily operations are supported and improved by a built-in structure of continuous measurement and evaluation. In this process, various types of data are collected from multiple sources and applied to continuous quality improvement through an organized committee structure that involves staff in review and action on needed improvements.

To support this system, all Department Heads attend "Management Academy" for advanced training in Management, Human Resources, Total Quality Management, and regulations control. All employees receive training in Total Quality Management principles and learn how to function on Quality Improvement Teams.

The sources of information and processes that are applied to quality improvement include:

• Monthly tracking of key indicators of quality
• Mini-surveys (called “probes”) of adherence to regulated standards
• Basic, quality, and billing audits of client records
• Utilization and peer review
• Consultations and reviews
• Comprehensive annual program reviews
• Client, family and agency partner satisfaction surveys
• Client and family outcome tracking
• Annual program reports focused on service outcomes
  

Karyn Dresser, Ph.D., Director of Research and Program Practices for Stars Behavioral Health Group, provides internal evaluation and guidance throughout our agency on various continuous quality improvement initiatives. Her article, Comprehensive Approach to Helping Youth with Substance Abuse, was featured in the National Council Magazine, a quarterly publication of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare.

View CLINICAL QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

View CLIENT/FAMILY MEMBER SATISFACTION PROGRAM