Quality Assurance
Northeast Behavioral Health (NBH) has a comprehensive Quality
Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program to guarantee the
highest quality services to its consumers and stakeholders.
The NBH QAPI program represents the integration of the activities of
both the Quality Improvement and Utilization Management departments to
monitor and maintain a high quality behavioral health organization.
- The QI program assesses the effectiveness of services provided by
NBH in a variety of ways, including:
- the NBH Consumer Report Card,
- tthe Mental Health Statistics Improvement Program (MHSIP) and Youth
Services Survey for Families (YSS-F),
- statewide performance indicators, and
- Performance Improvement Projects (PIPs).
The QI program also conducts other studies and monitoring activities to
assure that the services provided by NBH are in compliance with all state
and federal Medicaid regulations.
- In order to continuously improve services, the QI department is responsible for conducting Performance Improvement Projects which are designed to improve the quality of services provided.
- The activities of the QI department are evaluated yearly to determine the overall quality of care provided to consumers and to uncover any areas that need improvement.
The NBH QI Department is comprised of:
The NBH Quality Improvement program is headed by the
Quality Improvement
and Utilization Management Committee (QI/UMC)
which is a standing committee
that reports directly to the NBH Board of Managers.
This Committee oversees the QI/UM functions of NBH and meets a minimum
of once each month. The NBH Board of Managers has delegated authority to
the Committee to execute the QI/UM responsibilities.
The membership of the Committee minimally includes: the NBH Director of
Quality Improvement, the NBH Director of Utilization Management, the NBH
Assistant Director of Quality Improvement, the NBH Clinical Director, the
NBH Director of Utilization Management, the NBH Director of Consumer and
Family Affairs, the Deputy Directors of all three Provider Centers,
a psychiatrist, consumers, several consumer/family representatives; and
other clinical and administrative staff deemed necessary. Membership on
this committee is also offered to members of the independent provider
network.
- The Quality Improvement Administrative Subcommittee (QIAS) works on technical
details and reports directly to the QI/UMC on its findings and recommendations. This
committee meets monthly and consists of the Director of Quality Improvement, the
Director of Utilization Management, the Assistant Director of Quality Improvement,
the NBH Clinical Director, a psychiatrist, the NBH Director of Consumer and Family
Affairs, the Deputy Directors of the three Provider Centers, and other NBH staff as
appropriate.
- The Quality Improvement Administrative Subcommittee (QIAS) is also responsible
for reviewing federal, state, and local materials regarding mental health
practices. The purpose of these guidelines is to assist in the delivery of high
quality, strengths-based, culturally competent, clinical services, as well as to
promote the delivery of consistent clinical care. As such, the
Clinical Practice Guidelines Subcommittee
was created to review these materials, and then refine
them into a draft to be reviewed by the QI/UM Committee.
- NBH adopts Clinical Practice Guidelines that:
- Are based on valid and reliable clinical evidence or a consensus
of healthcare professionals in the field;
- Consider the needs of the members;
- Have been evaluated in consultation with contracting healthcare
professionals; and
- Are reviewed and updated periodically, as appropriate.
The American Psychiatric Association has practice guidelines that provide
evidence-based recommendations for treating psychiatric disorders. For more
information regarding the treatment of adults, click the link below:
http://www.psych.org/psych_pract/treatg/pg/prac_guide.cfm
For the treatment of children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders,
guidelines are also available from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry:
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Guidelines
- Another important task of the Quality Improvement/Utilization
Management Committee is to ensure that NBH and its Centers are
providing culturally competent mental health services. In order to
provide oversight in this area, the Cultural Competency Subcommittee
was formed. The committee includes minimally the NBH Assistant
Director of Quality Improvement and one representative from each
mental health center. Membership is also offered to consumers and
consumer/family representatives
- The Committee’s responsibilities include:
- Review each Center’s Cultural Competency Plan before presentation to the QI/UM Committee;
- Produce NBH's Cultural Competency Plan; and
- Ensure that NBH and the Centers comply with their Cultural Competency Plans;
- Assist Centers with training regarding cultural competency.
Other Useful Websites:
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
American Psychological Association
(APA) is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology
in the United States. With 148,000 members, APA is the largest association
of psychologists worldwide.
National Alliance on Mental Illness
(NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots
mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with
serious mental illness and their families.
Information about NBH's Quality Improvement Program is available to consumers, family members, consumer advocates, advocacy organizations, providers, and the Department Of Health Care Policy and Finance upon request and at no cost. Please contact the Director or Assistant Director of Quality Improvement to obtain more information or call NBH’s main telephone number at 1-970-347-2366 (1-888-296-5827).
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