who are we ?

Reduce Waiting & No-Shows Increase Admissions & Continuation www.NIATx.net

Who are We?

• We are:– Jefferson County, Alabama, Drug Court– Beacon Addiction Treatment Center

• Both affiliated with:– Treatment Alternatives for Safer

Communities (TASC)– University of Alabama at Birmingham

• Target: Drug Court clients referred to Beacon Addiction Treatment Center


Change #1 (PLAN)

To decrease wait time between Orientation for treatment and Intake/Assessment


CHANGE #1 (DO)

We changed the process of scheduling admission appointments -

• Prior to change: Counselors made appointments at their discretion

• Change: “Open clinic” schedule was developed where clients are given an appointment day and time and are assigned a counselor upon arrival


RESULTS (STUDY)

• Baseline: Average number of days between orientation and admission = 12.4

• Post Change: Average number of days between orientation and admission = 2.0

84% decrease in time

0

5

10

15

Before Change After Change

# of Days


NEXT STEP (ACT)

In addition to favorable results directly related to the change, we had an unintended positive side effect:

• Increased client return rate by nine percentage points (from 76% to 85%), saving counselor time and increasing billing

• We adopted the change.


IMPACT

• By decreasing time between orientation and assessment, we benefit more than $17,000 per year ($11,225 + $6,009)

• As a result we have implemented the NIATx method of Plan, Do, Study, and Act in other areas.


Other NIATx Change Studies

NIATx Change #2

Telephone Drug Court clients day before Orientation to remind them of appointment in order to increase attendance

• Increased “Show Up” rate by 23% (from 59% to 82%)


NIATx Change #3

Add PAMI (Promoting Awareness of Motivational Incentives) to improve IOP treatment attendance

• Increased attendance in treatment group by 4%

who are we ?

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