Below is an abridged transcript from a recent presentation about the implementation of measurement-based care within West Pines Behavioral Hospital.
Welcome! If you’ve ever wondered how mental health professionals track progress and truly understand if treatment is working, you’re in the right place. Today, we’re diving into “measurement-based care,” a powerful approach that’s transforming how patients receive support.
We’re joined by Jennifer Park, Director of Outpatient Services at Acadia Healthcare, and Ryan Plourde, Director of Clinical Services at West Pines Behavioral Health in Westminster, Colorado. West Pines is a new, state-of-the-art hospital dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based care for individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges.
Let’s hear how they’re using data to drive real, positive change.
Q: What exactly is “measurement-based care”, and why is it so important?
Jennifer Park: Measurement-based care is about using standardized assessments to track a patient’s progress throughout their treatment. Instead of relying solely on subjective feelings, we use these tools to get a clear picture of how symptoms are changing. This allows us to tailor treatment plans to each individual and, most importantly, answer the crucial question: “Are our patients actually getting better?”
Q: How does West Pines put this into practice? What does it look like on the ground?
Ryan Plourde: At West Pines, we’ve fully embraced measurement-based care. We use these assessments to help patients understand their own symptoms in a more comprehensive way. For example, someone might come reporting depression, but from the assessments, we can dig deeper with the symptoms, and educate the individual that behaviors like isolation, lack of interest, or loss of appetite may also be related to their depression.
This data allows us to set specific, measurable treatment goals, not just to address the symptoms that led to the patient to seek care, but also underlying issues such as lack of sleep or the need for structured social support to enable a comprehensive approach to care.
Q: You mentioned impressive results, with over 40% improvement in symptoms. Can you elaborate on that?
Ryan Plourde: Yes, we’ve seen significant improvements in depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms from admission to discharge. But even more striking are the “effect sizes” we’re observing.
Jennifer Park: Right, “effect size” is a statistical measure that tells us not just if patients are improving, but how much. In clinical trials and behavioral health, an effect size of 0.5 is considered a significant improvement. At West Pines, we’re seeing effect sizes exceeding 0.7, indicating substantial progress across those presenting with trauma, depression, and anxiety symptoms.
Q: Impressive. So, does measurement-based care only involve the clinical team?
Ryan Plourde: Not at all. Everyone in a hospital can contribute to the improvement of a patient. In fact, the measurement-based care data is shared with each department so they can understand how the work they are doing leads to patient improvements.
We take a holistic approach to care, involving every team member from the moment a patient walks through the door. We want to create a welcoming and supportive environment from the very beginning and empower our team to understand their role in accelerating a patient’s recovery.
Think about it: coming in for mental health treatment can be incredibly daunting. We work hard to make that first contact positive and then continue that support throughout their stay. An interdisciplinary team determines the correct level of care all the way through a patient stay while making sure we have clean, inviting rooms, so it feels safe and comfortable to engage in treatment. Our food services and environmental services teams also play vital roles, ensuring patients are comfortable and cared for.
Jennifer Park: That’s a great point. Sharing the data across departments helps everyone see the impact of their work and reinforces our commitment to our mission.
Q: How else can measurement-based care enhance clinical programming?
Ryan Plourde: We have seen it make a real difference in our detox unit which treats patients dealing with substance abuse challenges. For example, we noticed that anxiety scores were modest compared to our expectations. By digging deeper and talking to patients, we discovered that they were anxious about maintaining sobriety after discharge.
We then adjusted our programming to focus on relapse prevention, connecting patients with community resources and support networks. This is a great example of how data can inform and improve our interventions.
Jennifer Park: It’s clear that West Pines is truly committed to using data to improve patient outcomes. We are excited to see the continued impact of this work.
In Conclusion:
Measurement-based care is shifting behavioral health treatment, providing a clearer, more objective way to track progress and tailor interventions. By involving every team member and focusing on the whole person, West Pines is setting a new standard for compassionate, effective care.