The information on this website is intended for consumers, carers and staff of Victorian mental health services.

Opportunities in practice: outcome measurement in mental health (2008)

Foreword

“The routine measurement of consumer outcomes has been a priority of the National Mental Health Strategy since it was first adopted by Australian Health Ministers in 1992 and is articulated in all subsequent National Mental Health Plans. The measurement of consumer outcomes is also compatible with each jurisdiction’s emphasis on high quality health services and increased consumer and carer participation as articulated in relevant policy documents. Work undertaken during the period of the Second National Mental Health Plan (1998-2003) targeted the development of information infrastructure and workforce skills to support the use of outcome measurement and other quality improvement activities. All states and territories prepared comprehensive Information Development Plans (IDP) to guide their implementation activities.

The National Outcomes and Casemix Collection (NOCC) involves clinicians and consumers measuring changes over time in the health status of a consumer and include both clinician and consumer rated measures. It was introduced across all clinical public mental health services in Australia in 2003-2004 and is reported as a Key Performance Indicator, based on the National Health Performance Framework and linked to the strategic directions of the National Mental Health Plan 2003-2008.

Recognising the complexity of the work required and its national significance, the Australian Government contributed Commonwealth Own Purpose Outlays (COPO) funding under the Australian Health Care Agreements to assist jurisdictions in implementing their Information Development Plans (IDP) to support a range of quality and safety initiatives in specialist mental health care. States and territories have also received additional funding (2005-2008) under Quality Through Outcomes (QTO) agreements (Australian Health Care Agreements) to implement and enhance consumer outcomes in routine clinical practice.

The implementation of routine measurement of consumer outcomes was unprecedented and resulted in significant challenges for mental health services to embed the collection and utilisation of consumer outcomes in clinical practice. Consistent with funding and governance processes of mental health services across Australia, and the different models of service delivery, each state and territory has faced unique challenges in this implementation. Despite the differences, many similarities have been identified, including:

• workforce capacity to routinely collect and utilise consumer outcomes
• workforce development including general training in IT, assessment and documentation and in consumer outcome rating and application
• attitudinal challenges in developing mental health services with a focus on mental health information and a culture of enquiry
• data system accessibility and reporting capabilities
• consumer and carer awareness of, and participation in, the consumer outcome agenda.”

Outcome measurement publications overview and suggested uses

This document provides an overview of the outcome measurement publications produced between November 2008 and June 2009. These resources have been developed by the time-limited Mental Health and Drugs Division outcome measurement team (Angie Hunter, Karen Williams, Melanie Rygl, Anna Crowley and Keir Saltmarsh) following extensive collaboration.

Outcome measurement publications overview and suggested uses (PDF file 3.8mb)

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