History of the Outcomes Initiative
Outcomes Task Force
In 1996, the Ohio Mental Health Outcomes Task Force (OTF) was charged with developing a statewide approach to measuring consumer outcomes in Ohio's publicly supported mental health system. The OTF consisted of a culturally diverse group of members who met for 16 months. The group developed recommendations for a standardized approach to measuring outcomes for adults and youth. They operated by consensus and used highly participative decision processes to develop a product with integrity and community support.
Outcomes Implementation Pilot Coordinating Group
At the conclusion of their work, the Outcomes Implementation Pilot Coordinating Group (OIPCG) began to design the pilot implementation process, evaluate the results of the pilot implementation and make changes to the Outcomes System based on these results. At the conclusion of the pilot in December 1999, several lessons had been learned about the implementation process, resources and uses of data. These lessons were passed on to other local mental health systems across the state as full implementation of Ohio's Mental Health Consumer Outcomes Initiative began.
Outcomes Users Group
The Outcomes Users Group met every other week for several years via conference call. The calls provided a venue for local systems to exchange ideas, share locally-developed products and formulate answers to questions facilitated successful implementation and maintenance of the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) Mental Health Consumer Outcomes System. When statewide implementation issues were identified and brought forth by local systems, the Outcomes Users Group discussed the issues and recommended statewide solutions. Participation in the group was voluntary but strongly recommended. Representatives from provider agencies and boards in all phases of implementation were encouraged to participate. The Outcomes Users Group conference calls were discontinued as of October 2003 in favor of doing more active phone and e-mail consultations with individuals.
Data Reports Workgroup
The Statewide Outcomes Data Reports Workgroup was convened in 2002 to provide guidance to the Ohio Department of Mental Health regarding the content and format of data reports generated from the statewide aggregated outcomes database. In keeping with the values of the Outcomes Task Force and to insure the data reports were useful to local systems, workgroup membership included providers, board staff, consumers and family members. The Workgroup completed its work in December 2002.
Statewide Outcomes Data Mart Committee
The Outcomes Data Mart Committee was convened in August 2002 to provide guidance to ODMH regarding the content, format and structure of the Outcomes Data Mart. The committee was charged with determining what the Data Mart should be able to do and how it should look, as well as recommending the data elements to be included. The committee's recommendations are detailed in the Outcomes Data Mart Conceptual Model.
Outcomes System Quality Improvement Group
The Outcomes System Quality Improvement Group (OSQIG) was convened in May 2005 to review local experiences in using the Ohio Mental Health Consumer Outcomes System. Topics of interest included training, automation and outcomes data use in individual treatment and agency quality improvement. The group was charged with making recommendations to ODMH for improvements to the Consumer Outcomes System and how it is being implemented state wide. OSQIG issued a report (large file) containing a summary of the group's findings and recommendations concerning outcomes as well as a summary of issues larger than outcomes that have an impact on the system at large.
Outcomes System Quality Improvement Group - Instruments
One of the first recommendations of OSQIG was to defer instrument changes for three years so more information about the instruments could be gathered. This recommendation paved the way for the birth of the Outcomes System Quality Improvement Group - Instruments (OSQIG-I) . This group is considering recommendations for revisions to the outcomes instruments. Following the example of previous outcomes groups, OSQIG-I is a statewide entity with membership from diverse constituency groups, including consumers, family members, providers, board staff and others. The group began meeting in March of 2007.