What is Measurement-Based Care?
Measurement-based care (MBC) is the systematic evaluation of symptoms before or during an encounter and use of the results to inform decision-making about treatment at the level of the individual client (Fortney et al., 2016; Lewis et al., 2019).
Utility of MBC for Clients
Increases treatment engagement
Improves understanding of symptoms
Eases ability to communicate about and quantify their experience
Enhances rapport with service provider (e.g. feeling that providers are taking their mental health problems seriously)
Utility of MBC for Service Providers
Optimizes efficiency, accuracy, & consistency of assessing needs or symptoms
Enhances ability to track goal achievement & detect changes
Facilitates collaboration/care coordination
Helps inform treatment decisions
Utility of MBC for Organizations and Health Systems
Aggregate data can be used to:
Monitor effectiveness of specific treatments, treatment components, and clinical programs
Target areas for professional development and quality improvement
Demonstrate competency & value to accreditors and funders
Evidence for Effectiveness of MBC
- Significantly improved patient outcomes compared to usual care, especially for non-responsive patients
- Decreased likelihood of patient deterioration during treatment
- Decreased costs of care
- Faster symptom improvement in youth
