Measurement-Based Care is an innovative, evidence-based strategy that aims to collect clinical data and customize treatment accordingly. It is the key element of collaborative care model that aims to improve its patients’ symptoms of mental illness. The practice has been acknowledged by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as the evidence-based treatment practice in which a patient’s treatment is altered based on the outcomes observed on the rating scales such as, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) for anxiety and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression.

Several attributes can be used to determine the quality of each rating scale used for various behavioral health conditions. A few of these include:

• Objectivity: There is no difference in the results obtained based on the administrator or interpreter of the results.
• Reliability: The evaluation done using rating scale helps in determining reproducible data that can be presented across different timings and clients.
• Validity: The rating scale measures the exact parameters it is intended to measure. For instance, the presence of depression can be easily diagnosed based on its symptoms and their difference from other mental illnesses.
• Achievability: Controlling and overseeing the results of the assessment are possible to be administered based on the time, staff, and material restraints.
• Norm-reference: The values are compared to those of similar clinical groups.

Advantages of Measurement-Based Care Extend To Everyone 

A few studies conducted in the past have determined that collecting regular feedback from the patient on their medical condition increases their chances of positive outcome. Moreover, it also reduces any chances of deterioration in their health. This was confirmed across all age groups and treatment settings. Therefore, measurement-based care can be used as a reliable method to monitor patient’s response on a planned treatment. 

The benefits of seeking help in the form of measurement-based care are not just limited to patient for customizing their treatment plan based on real-time tracking; these extend to payers and providers as well. Some of the benefits that have been noticed across studies include:

Patients: A patient can expect a significant level of improvement in his interpersonal problems, psychological disturbance, and quality of life if he/she combines his/her normal treatment plan with measurement-based care. The inclusion of this process also leads to his/her active engagement in his/her overall treatment process.

Clinicians: This treatment process enables the clinicians to alter the intervention based on the information available. The clinicians can conduct objective assessment of the patient’s condition and accordingly alter the treatment plan to ensure their speedy recovery.

Mental Health Organizations: The treatment method provides the mental health organizations with the relevant data indicating the performance. This data can then be used to improve the quality of medical care services offered and the level of patient care available.

Overcome Barriers for Effective Implementation

While the benefits of measurement-based care cannot be surpassed, there are many factors that hinder its adoption by medical practitioners. Some of these include time restriction, lack of organizational resources, complex patient condition, lack of adequate training and organizational support. Therefore, to ensure that this process is adopted at a faster pace, the need of the hour is to overcome these barriers and help medical practitioners deliver a much better and customized treatment.

If you are practicing as a medical professional or aim to become one, it is important to pursue the right kind of course. In case, you would like to know the details of the different courses available across the country and abroad to build a career as a successful mental health professional, contact us at +91 9599093700 or drop us an email at info@athena-foundation.com