TARRY HOUSE, INC.

 

Subject:  Performance Improvement                 

 

Procedure Number:  M.L. 14

Site:  All

Developed: January 22, 2008

Issued By: Executive Director

Effective: 1/28/08

Approved By: The Board of Trustees

Revised:

Reference Policy: M.L.02; M.L.10; B.P.01; H.R. 1,2,3 & 4; C.P. 4 & 5; H.S. 1 & 13; R.P. 1,6 & 18.

Reviewed:

 

Standards Reference:

CARF: Section 1 - C

ODMH: 5122-30-22

 

Purpose

 

The mission of Tarry House, Inc. is to provide quality consumer-driven and family-supported residential recovery services to assist persons with severe mental illness to maximize their independence.  To that end, it is the policy of Tarry House to continually improve both (a) the quality of the services offered and provided and (b) the business and financial framework that will support the services offered and provided. 

 

Performance improvement can be conceptualized as a continuous cycle of asking questions, gathering data to answer the questions, analyzing the data, and using the results to improve services and ask more questions.  The purpose of the Tarry House Performance Improvement Policy is to establish a framework for the following:

a)  Strive to ensure that activities reflect best practices,

b)  Assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of all activities, and

c)  Gathering feedback from those served and other stakeholders regarding their satisfaction with services. 

 

It will include guidelines for collecting and analyzing data, reporting information, and implementing change and will consider the following areas:

1)  Clinical programs and services

2)  Business function

3)  Governance

4)  Human Resources

5)  Health and safety

 

 

Procedure 

 

Training regarding performance improvement, outcomes management, statistics, and research design is conducted or scheduled by the Executive Director, Clinical Director, or designee. 

 

1)  Clinical programs and services

 

A)  Outcomes Management

The outcomes management plan applies to each Tarry House program maintaining or seeking accreditation, and performance goals will be established based on the program’s history, targets derived from best practices, or perceived trends. 

 

After the establishment of goals, appropriate measures will be selected and data will be collected to answer questions regarding effectiveness, efficiency, service access, and customer and stakeholder satisfaction.  The plan will also specify to whom the indicator will be applied, the primary sources for data collection, and extenuating/influencing factors.

 

When a service that is offered or provided to the persons served is being considered, data will be collected at the beginning of services, at appropriate intervals during services, at the end of services, and point(s) in time following services as appropriate and when applicable.  A schedule of outcomes management activity can be found in the annual Performance Improvement Plan. 

 

B)  Records Review

 

Performance improvement includes regular review of randomly selected open and closed records.  The review will be completed by a trained consultant, volunteer, or staff member who is/was not primarily responsible for producing the record.

 

C)  Client Rights & Grievance Reports

 

All written and verbal grievances are reviewed by a Client Rights Advocate.  The Client Rights Advocate makes Tarry House management aware of any problems, issues, or trends.  The grievances are summarized annually and presented to the Tarry House management and to the County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services Board Client Rights Ombudsman for consideration in the Performance Improvement Plan. 

 

D)  Critical Incident Summary

 

Critical incidents are discussed as needed during the Administrative Staff Meetings and action is taken when necessary.  The incidents are summarized annually and presented to Tarry House management for consideration in the Performance Improvement Plan. 

 

2)  Business function

 

Financial reports are prepared monthly for the Board of Trustees and financial statements are reviewed at least six times per year.  An independent audit will completed annually by a certified accounting firm.

 

Areas of potential financial risk are identified through inspection and consideration of all reports generated by the agency, including but not limited to safety drills, accessibility information, grievances, and technology recommendations.  In addition, all Tarry House Policy and Procedures are reviewed annually, as are all of the insurance policies.

 

Corporate Compliance Review

 

The Performance Improvement Report and Action Plan will also include a review of any substantiated reports via the Corporate Compliance Program.   Details regarding this system can be found in the Corporate Compliance Policy and Procedure.  The Corporate Compliance Officer will meet at least one time annually with the Executive Director and Board President and any other Board Member who wishes to attend, to review activity if any, within the Corporate Compliance Program.  Any recommendations made during this meeting and/or anytime a corporate compliance review is conducted, will be followed up with goals, objectives and action steps placed into the Tarry House Strategic Plan.

 

 

3)  Governance

 

Each member of the Board of Trustees is provided with a copy of the by-laws and is expected to be familiar with them.  Members of the Board of Trustees are expected to participate in the organization’s strategic planning process and assist in areas of performance improvement when appropriate.   The Board of Trustees is subject to corporate compliance review.

 

 

4)  Human Resources

 

Decisions regarding the selection, retention, and training of the staff are based on a review of the data gleaned from annual performance evaluations and on contact with other agencies and the County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services Board, as well as review of CARF Standards and Ohio Department of Mental Health Rules. 

 

5)  Health and safety

 

Safety drills and self-inspections are conducted at regular intervals, and the results inform training decisions and physical plant modifications and/or improvements.  In addition, critical incidents are considered and consultation with medical professionals has been arranged. 

 

Analysis and Reporting

 

Analysis of collected data will occur on an ongoing basis or within a reasonable time following the specified data collection timeframe.  A yearly summary, found in the Tarry House Management Report, will be generated that presents the data, provides analysis, and sets goals.  The report will also:

  1. Identify areas needing performance improvement
  2. Result in an action plan to address the improvements needed to reach established or revised performance goals.
  3. Outline future actions to be taken or changes made to improve performance.

The report will be shared as appropriate and available to staff members, persons served, the Board of Trustees, other stakeholders such as funding agents and referral agencies, and surveyors.

 

Improvement

 

The information will be integrated into clinical services, training for the staff and Board of Trustees, strategic planning, and/or business practices to improve the organization’s performance.  Finally, the information will be used to review the implementation of the mission and goals of the organization.

 

Confidentiality

 

Some performance improvement activities are confidential.  No involved staff member will voluntarily reveal discussions concerning peer review activities outside the designated forums.

 

Results of performance improvement efforts are available for review by authorized personnel, persons served, and others as appropriate.

 

 

 

Responsibility

 

The responsibility of data collection will vary depending on the type of data being collected.  Analysis responsibilities will be shared by various staff members.

 

Compilation of the final report, general coordination of the Quality Improvement efforts and implementation of the plan will be of the Quality Improvement Coordinator.

 

The information gathered and reported will be used to improve the organization’s functioning and the quality of the services provided.

 

 

 

 

________________________________________                            _____________________

Executive Director                                                                                Date