A planning tool for multidisciplinary youth care evaluated: A case study

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• 作者：I.J. Baars ; G.G. van Merode
• 关键词：Organizational case studies ; Management information systems ; Technology ; Mental health services ; Implementation
• 刊名：International Journal of Medical Informatics
• 出版年：2008
• 出版时间：May 2008
• 年：2008
• 卷：77
• 期：5
• 页码：315-323
• 全文大小：462 K

文摘

Method: A computerised care programme package was implemented as part of a randomised controlled trial evaluating intensive case management for the severely mentally ill. The software was tailored locally so that the categories of care reflected the task oriented activities of the mental health workers/case managers. The software forces users to write a structured care programme, to review their care plans and to confirm when tasks are completed. The prospective collection of activity data on computer enables rapid analysis of activity patterns. The reliability of this data was tested by comparison with case notes.

Results: Data obtained from the software has been successfully used to provide activity reports for managers (e.g. frequency, duration and nature of client contacts). Staff report that recording activity data in this way provides a helpful structure to guide their care programming, enables staff to evaluate their care patterns and promotes a greater clarity of thinking.

Conclusion: Despite a number of practical problems, a computer driven care programme approach is a usable clinical tool that also provides hard measures of mental health professionals' activity. It also enables model guidance and programme replication.