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Getting Beyond the “Good Idea” Phase in Evidence-based Practice
The year is 1846. Hungarian-born physician Ignaz Semmelweis is in his first month of employment at Vienna General hospital when he notices a troublingly high death rate among women giving birth in the obstetrics ward. Medical science at the time attributes the problem to “miasma,” an invisible, poison gas believed responsible for a variety of illnesses.… — read more
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Questions and Answers about Feedback Informed Treatment and Deliberate Practice: Another COVID-19 Resource
Since they were developed and tested back in the late 90’s, the Outcome and Session Rating Scales have been downloaded by practitioners more than 100,000 times! Judging by the number of cases entered into the three authorized software applications, the tools have been used inform service delivery for millions of clients seeking care for different… — read more
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Something BIG is Happening: The Demand for Routine Outcome Measurement from Funders
Something is happening. Something big. Downloads of the Outcome and Session Rating Scales have skyrocketed. The number of emails I receive has been steadily increasing. The subject? Routine outcome measurement. The questions: Where can I get copies of your measures? Paper and pencil versions are available on my website. What is the cost? Individual practitioners… — read more
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The Illness and the Cure: Two Free, Evidence-based Resources for What Ails and Can Heal Serious Psychological Distress
Findings from several recent studies are sobering. Depression is now the leading cause of ill-health and disability worldwide–more than cancer, heart disease, respiratory problems, and accidents. Yesterday, researchers reported that serious psychological distress is at an all-time high, significantly affecting not only quality but actual life expectancy. And who has not heard about the opioid… — read more
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Ohio Update: Use of CDOI improves outcome, retention, and decreases "board-level" complaints
A few days ago, I received an email from Shirley Galdys, the Associate Director of the Crawford-Marion Alcohol and Drug/Mental Health Services Board in Marion, Ohio. Back in January, I blogged about the steps the group had taken to deal with the cutbacks, shortfalls, and all around tough economic circumstances facing agencies in Ohio. At… — read more
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Outcomes in OZ III
Dateline: November 28, 2009 Brisbane, Australia Crown Plaza Hotel Pelican Waters Golf Resort & Spa As their name implies, LifeLine Australia is the group people call when they need a helping hand. During the last leg of my tour of eastern Australia, I was lucky enough to spend two days working with Lifeline’s dedicated and talented clinicians on improving… — read more