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ValueOptions(R) Supports New Hospital-Based Performance Measures to Help Patients Get the Best Treatment for Inpatient and Outpatient Services

Posted on: Friday, 8 May 2009, 17:06 CDT

NORFOLK, Va., May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- ValueOptions(R), Inc., the nation's largest independent behavioral health and wellness company, announces its support for the use of The Joint Commission's Hospital-Based Inpatient Psychiatric Services (HBIPS) performance measures. The basis for the recently completed pilot program was to establish a set of core performance measures to help patients receive the most appropriate and medically necessary treatment for psychiatric inpatient services and for services upon discharge. Following The Joint Commission's successful pilot testing, these performance measures are now available for widespread use in hospitals.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090106/PH55551LOGO )

There are seven HBIPS performance measures in place for hospitals which are accredited by The Joint Commission:

• Admission screening for violence risk, substance use, psychological trauma history and patient strengths
• Hours of physical restraint use
• Hours of seclusion use
• Patients discharged on multiple antipsychotic medications
• Patients discharged on multiple antipsychotic medications with appropriate justification
• Post discharge continuing care plan created
• Post discharge continuing care plan transmitted to next level of care provider upon discharge

"Coordination between Inpatient and Outpatient providers in these areas will help to ensure positive outcomes for members and their families," said Renee Abdou-Malta, vice president of National Network Services for ValueOptions(R). "We very much encourage our Joint Commission-accredited providers to work together in this manner."

"Thorough assessments which lead to individualized treatment plans as well as discharge coordination are areas that ValueOptions(R) advocates," said Hal Levine, D.O., chief medical officer for ValueOptions(R). "We routinely encourage hospitals to minimize their use of seclusion, restraint and polypharmacy. The Joint Commission's measures will help all parties involved to provide optimal services when treating members."

More information regarding The Joint Commission's HBIPS performance measures can be found on The Joint Commission's Web site.

About ValueOptions(R), Inc.

ValueOptions(R), Inc., the nation's largest independent behavioral health and wellness company, provides services to more than 23 million individuals through a variety of contracts with state and county agencies and, additionally, with health plans and employers. ValueOptions(R) is a national behavioral health and wellness company that specializes in management for all behavioral health issues and promotes health and wellness through innovative programs. ValueOptions(R) mission is to improve the health and wellness for the people it serves.

www.ValueOptions.com

SOURCE ValueOptions, Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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