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This paper describes the development and utilization of a performance measurement system installed in the case management program for chronic substance abusers who are committed for chemical dependency treatment in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The system (operational for over four years) produces quarterly management reports which display client characteristics at program entry as well as client outcomes achieved during and following the six-month commitment period. Institutionalization of the system within the program and the associated measurement of client characteristics and outcomes have helped to standardize case planning and to sensitize program staff to both client needs and the outcomes toward which staff and client efforts should be directed. Finally, the paper describes the special studies that have been generated from the performance measurement system's database. These include the development of caseload difficulty indices, and multivariate investigations of the relationship between client characteristics and outcomes. The paper seeks to add to the knowledge of the ways in which performance measurement systems might be designed, implemented, and used. KEYWORDS. Performance measurement system utilization, case management, chemical dependency

A study was conducted to determine: the effect of rehabilitation medicine (RM) educational experiences during medical school on physicians' awareness of RM; attitude toward RM; the management of long-term care; and the tendency to seek expert consultation and patient referral when necessary. (Author/MH)

The purpose of this study is to determine whether exposure to rehabilitation medicine (RM) educational experiences during medical school is associated with physicians' awareness of rehabilitation medicine; attitude toward the specialty; an inclination to properly manage long-term care; and a tendency to seek expert con sultation and patient referral when indicated. The study utilizes a retrospective research design intended to take advantage of natural situations and events which occurred in four medical schools. Based on responses to a mail survey questionnaire, the study assesses the outcomes associated with the methods used to acquaint medical students with RM in three select schools acknowledged to have strong RM departments, and one "comparison school" which, until recently, had a somewhat limited medical school RM curriculum. Results suggest that practicing physicians who attended medical schools with relatively strong RM departments express greater familiarity with RM and, in addi tion, reported greater satisfaction with their RM medical school experiences. Further, they are more likely to both consult with physiatrists and refer severely physically disabled and chronically ill individuals to physiatrists than are the graduates of the comparison school. Medical school officials might make use of the study's findings when making decisions concerning the allocation of resources to support medical school rehabilitation medicine curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article describes the development and utilization of a performance measurement system installed in the case management program for chronic substance abusers who are committed for chemical dependency treatment in Hennepin County, MN. The system (operational for more than 4 years) produces quarterly management reports that display client characteristics at program entry as well as client outcomes achieved during and following the 6-month commitment period. Institutionalization of the system within the program and the associated measurement of client characteristics and outcomes have helped to standardize case planning and sensitize program staff members to client needs and the outcomes toward which staff and client efforts should be directed. Finally, the article describes the special studies that have been generated from the performance measurement system's database. These include the development of caseload difficulty indices and multivariate investigations of the relationship between client characteristics and outcomes. The article seeks to add to the knowledge of the ways in which performance measurement systems might be designed, implemented, and used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]