Client Outcomes and Service Model Implementation Assessments For
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Project number: IQP HXA-A076 Client Outcomes Assessments and Service Model Implementation for Vision Australia An Interactive Qualifying Project For the Melbourne Project Center Submitted to the Faculty of the WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science By ________________________ Christina Dougherty ________________________ Adam Medeiros ________________________ Scott Nelson Date: May 1, 2007 Approved: ______________________________ Professor Holly Ault, Primary Advisor ______________________________ Professor Jonathan Barnett, Co-Advisor 1. outcomes assessment 2. service model 3. disability This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its web site without editorial or peer review. Abstract Vision Australia, a provider of services to the blind and vision impaired in Australia, is three years removed from the merger which resulted in its conception. A new client service model has been developed by the organization in an effort to achieve continuous improvement in client outcomes. The goal of this project was to make suggestions for evaluating the implementation of the new service model in addition to developing a framework for the evaluation of client outcomes. Both old and new service models were analyzed, interviews were conducted with personnel from Vision Australia, and archival data from the pre-merger organizations were researched to discern the differences between the pre-merger organizations, understand the current methods of qualitative outcomes assessment, and conclude on suggestions for the amalgamation of the pre-merger service models. This project identified a list of indicators for measuring the implementation of the new service model and created a framework for assessing client outcomes. ii Executive Summary Vision impairment has a great impact on the daily lives of Australians. Within the next twenty years, the number of Australians with a vision impairment is expected to increase from 480,000 to nearly 800,000 people (Unightforsite, 2007). The leading provider of services to the blind and visually impaired in Australia is Vision Australia, an organization that resulted from the merger of three major visual disability organizations in 2004 (the Royal Blind Society, the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, and the Vision Australia Foundation). Although the merger occurred nearly three years ago, the pre-merger business units of Vision Australia are still functioning under different client service models. Vision Australia has recently developed a unified client service model; developing suggestions for evaluating the implementation of the new model was one of the key deliverables of this project. In addition, a new shift towards the quantification of client outcomes has accompanied the service model of Vision Australia. The second deliverable for this project was, then, to develop an outcomes assessment framework by which Vision Australia could measure the impact of its services on the lives of clients. Preliminary background information was sought in an effort to understand the context of the situation and the history of the organization. General information regarding the merger and history of Vision Australia was acquired in addition to statistics on the vision impaired in Australia. In addition, the new service model of Vision Australia was examined to understand exactly what was to be implemented. Several international approaches to outcomes assessment were reviewed, and literature regarding the definitions of client outcomes and the necessity for outcomes assessment was analyzed. These outcomes assessment measures were classified into two categories, quality of life and task-based. The roles of typical Vision Australia employees were also studied to make early inferences as to which outcomes assessment techniques would be useful. Throughout the course of the project, information was gathered through interviews, focus groups, and further literature research. Interviews were conducted with service staff, local management, and senior management to determine how outcomes were perceived, how the different service centers were operating, and suggestions for the implementation of the new service model. Valuable information on the differences that must be overcome in the amalgamation into the new client service model was gathered through both interviews and iii examining the archival service models of the pre-merger organizations. These differences included intake procedures, record keeping, and evaluation of client outcomes. Client service model framework documents were collected from each of the pre- merger organizations as well as from Vision Australia. As the main objective for this part of the project concerned evaluating the extent of the new client service model implementation, it was necessary to understand what aspects were retained from each of the three previous organizations. It was also important to determine the main focuses of the new VA model document that were necessary before effective implementation assessments could be recommended. Through interviews with management and as well as thorough review of the service model documents, it was established that client intake, records and data collection, and communication between the organization and the client were the main focuses of the new service model. This does not mean other important aspects were not found such as training and underlying service themes; these aspects of the service model document are just secondary to the three main concepts upon which recommendations were based. Client intake, or the process by which a new client is integrated into the VA service system, was a primary goal of the management. The pre-merger organizations all had different methods for client intake ranging from formal assessments conducted in person to phone conversations. The VA model calls for the establishment of the National Contact Center (NCC). This center will serve as a common entry point for all initial calls to the organization. The NCC is to be responsible for the initial client records as well. Basic information about client needs and goals will be electronically documented and then forwarded to the appropriate local service center. Vision Australia should periodically evaluate the extent to which information is being recorded in the client electronic file. The NCC should be responsible for assessing the extent that client files are being forwarded to the most appropriate local office. Finally, information should be distributed to the staff of VA concerning the purpose of the NCC. Also included should be what the organization expects a local service center to do once a new client file has been received from the NCC. Providing this information will allow all staff to understand what is expected and make it easier for all service centers to follow the same procedures. The second important theme of the service model document is record keeping and data collection. Based on the pre-merger affiliation, service centers either kept the client files electronically, paper documented, or a combination of the two. VA would like the organization to use the Client Management System (CMS) electronic program for all clients iv in all service provision areas. To evaluate the implementation of this requirement, the regional managers should review the process and assess all closed cases with the specialists at team meetings or individual conferences. Any problems should be brought to the attention of the managers, who will compile the information and report to senior management. The third theme of the service model document was communication and centered on the concept of a key contact. A key contact is the client’s liaison to the organization that refers clients to products and services and through which a personal rapport can be established. To assess the implementation of key contacts, the regional managers should monitor the number of clients assigned to each staff member at the monthly team meetings. These reports could then be forwarded on to the senior management when necessary for the collection of relevant data. A framework for assessing client outcomes was also developed so that Vision Australia could quantify client outcomes in both task based and quality of life forums. The framework included the types of available outcomes assessments, administration of these assessments, and a cycle for continuous organization improvement through internal analysis of aggregate outcomes data. The entire outcomes assessment framework can be broken down into three tiers: intake, service provision and outcomes assessment, and continuous improvement. Focus groups with current clients were conducted with the purpose of developing a picture of the clients’ perspective of outcomes in addition to understanding the outcomes assessment techniques that best suited them. These ideas were coupled with suggestions from management and information from the literature on outcomes assessment to develop a framework for evaluating client outcomes. This framework includes a common language to describe client outcomes, proven outcomes assessment tools, suggestions on the administration of outcomes assessments, and opportunities for analyzing outcomes data that are conducive to continuous improvement. The suggestions for the assessment of client outcomes can be summarized in