OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the Resident Assessment Instrument-Mental Health (RAI-MH) assessment platform at a large psychiatric hospital in Ontario during the 3 years following its provincially mandated implementation in 2005. Our objectives were to document and consider changes over time in front-line coding practices and in indicators of data quality. METHOD: Structured interviews with program staff were used for preliminary information-gathering on front-line coding practices. A retrospective data review of assessments conducted from 2005 to 2007 examined 5 quantitative indicators of data quality. RESULTS: There is evidence of improved data quality over time; however, low scores on the outcome scales highlight potential shortcomings in the assessment system's ability to support outcome monitoring. There was variability in implementation and performance across clinical programs. CONCLUSIONS: This evaluation suggests that the RAI-MH-based assessment platform may be better suited to longer-term services for severely impaired clients than to short-term, highly specialized services. In particular, the suitability of the RAI-MH for hospital-based addictions care should be re-examined. Issues of staff compliance and motivation and problems with assessment system performance would be highly entwined, making it inappropriate to attempt to allocate responsibility for areas of less than optimal performance to one or the other. The ability of the RAI-MH to perform well on clinical front lines is, in any case, essential for it to meet its objectives. Continued evaluation of this assessment platform should be a priority for future research.
OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the Resident Assessment Instrument-Mental Health (RAI-MH) assessment platform at a large psychiatric hospital in Ontario during the 3 years following its provincially mandated implementation in 2005. Our objectives were to document and consider changes over time in front-line coding practices and in indicators of data quality. METHOD: Structured interviews with program staff were used for preliminary information-gathering on front-line coding practices. A retrospective data review of assessments conducted from 2005 to 2007 examined 5 quantitative indicators of data quality. RESULTS: There is evidence of improved data quality over time; however, low scores on the outcome scales highlight potential shortcomings in the assessment system's ability to support outcome monitoring. There was variability in implementation and performance across clinical programs. CONCLUSIONS: This evaluation suggests that the RAI-MH-based assessment platform may be better suited to longer-term services for severely impaired clients than to short-term, highly specialized services. In particular, the suitability of the RAI-MH for hospital-based addictions care should be re-examined. Issues of staff compliance and motivation and problems with assessment system performance would be highly entwined, making it inappropriate to attempt to allocate responsibility for areas of less than optimal performance to one or the other. The ability of the RAI-MH to perform well on clinical front lines is, in any case, essential for it to meet its objectives. Continued evaluation of this assessment platform should be a priority for future research.
Authors: Lucy Church Barker; Andrea Gruneir; Kinwah Fung; Nathan Herrmann; Paul Kurdyak; Elizabeth Lin; Paula A Rochon; Dallas Seitz; Valerie H Taylor; Simone N Vigod Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2017-11-09 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Agnes Grudniewicz; Allie Peckham; David Rudoler; M Ruth Lavergne; Rachelle Ashcroft; Kimberly Corace; Mark Kaluzienski; Ridhwana Kaoser; Lucie Langford; Rita McCracken; W Craig Norris; Anne O'Riordan; Kevin Patrick; Sandra Peterson; Ellen Randall; Jennifer Rayner; Christian G Schütz; Nadiya Sunderji; Helen Thai; Paul Kurdyak Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-09-20 Impact factor: 3.006