Consumer Outcomes
Consumer outcomes are indicators of an individual’s or family’s health or well-being. Outcomes are measured by statements or observed characteristics of a consumer and/or family – not by characteristics of the service system. Outcomes evaluation is conducted with methods similar to research, but its primary purpose is to improve the effectiveness or impact of services being delivered.
Announcements
In a memorandum dated August 28, 2009, Director Stephenson indicated that the Ohio Department of Mental Health will discontinue all current Outcomes measures reporting requirements and collection procedures at the state level. The last board extracts will be run September 3, and the Outcomes Data Mart will be updated for the last time by the end of September. We will provide you with further detail regarding these decisions as they become available in the coming weeks. Thank you for your continued assistance and support in our efforts to achieve efficiencies in our system.
Resources
Instruments & Procedures
The outcomes surveys and procedures to be used by agencies are available here. Out-of-state or for-profit users of the Ohio Scales for Youth can access the licensing agreement here as well. The surveys for adults are in the public domain and free to use.
Planning & Training Tools
If you are implementing outcomes for the first time or need to provide training to your staff, many training tools are available for clinicians, consumers and family members, administrators and quality improvement staff.
Outcomes Data Mart
Do you want to know about how an agency, board area, special population group or the whole state is doing on an outcome measure? The Outcomes Data Mart is easy to use and contains three years of data. Information about the development of the Outcomes Data Mart and instructions for use are also available.
Statewide Reports & Norms
Reports on normative data, specialized benchmarking data, statewide outcomes, data collection and special reports are available in this area. If you need to replicate some of the reports, SPSS code is also available.
Data Flow & Technology
Everything you need to know about technology for collecting and submitting outcomes data can be obtained here. The Outcome Template and Reports Generator (in use at more than 50 percent of agencies) are free software tools for entering, storing, reporting and submitting outcomes data.
Quality Improvement
Follow the work of the most recent outcomes measurement improvement group. Get involved with the development by providing input!
History of the Initiative
Find out why and when decisions were made since the inception of the Ohio Consumer Outcomes System.