NIATX Opiate Treatment Project

October 24, 2010

Tami Bahr, LCSW, CSAC, ICSAssistant DirectorConnections Counseling

PDSA – Increase Group Attendance

• Executive Sponsor identified this goal

• Change Team Brainstormed Ideas• Came up with a variety of ideas to test

• Reminder calls, survey group, text messages, reminder cards, excused absence limit

• Change Team conducted 5 different change projects over the year• Reminder cards

• Group survey

• Commit to next group & problem solve barriers

• Text message reminders

• Excused absence limit & process to re-engage

Data Collection & Results• Utilized group rosters to identify who is supposed to attend

group and who actually attended• Collected data throughout the year

• Initial baseline was 66% (October 2009)• Lowest baseline was 53% (March – May 2010)• Baseline for Project: 5:30 group – 62% 6:30 group – 62%

• Implemented Excused absence protocol and separated groups• Data to date:

5:30 group – 70% overall attendance rate6:30 group - 79% overall attendance rate

• Increased attendance this project by 8 - 17%• Increased overall (Lowest baseline) by – 26%

Data Results 5:30 pm Group…Baseline 7/7/10 – 8/4/10; Change Project 8/11/10 – 9/29/10Average Baseline: 62% Average Change Project: 70%

Data Results 6:30 pm groupBaseline 7/7/10 – 8/4/10; Change Project 8/11/10 – 9/29/10Average Baseline : 62% Average Change Project: 79%

Strategic Advantage

• Staff participation in groups is a fixed number• 2 staff per group

• Increase in group attendance = Increase in direct revenue

• There is no additional cost to the clinic

• Increased attendance also = Increased opportunities for clients to connect

Sustainability Plan

• Feedback from clients• Accountability in group is needed• Consistency from staff is appreciated

• Feedback from staff• Consistent expectations for everyone in group helps them address

group dynamic issues

• Changed protocol to adopt this change project

• Exploring ways to implement this in other groups

Lessons Learned• Attention to group feedback is critical

• Creation of consequences is not always negative

• Overall, our opiate groups had higher baseline attendance than other groups

• Clients may have wanted to attend group and remembered to attend but had other barriers to get there

• Attendance rates have been consistent even though we

have had an increase in numbers of clients assigned to groups

• Keep data collection as simple as possible!

Tami Bahr, LCSW, CSAC, ICSConnections Counseling1334 Applegate Road, Suite 101Madison, WI 53713Phone: (608) 221-1500 ext 23Fax: (608) 221-1515Email: tami@bahrnet.wswww.connectionscounseling.com