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Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research

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01-05-2013 | Original Article

Challenges to Quality Assurance and Improvement Efforts in Behavioral Health Organizations: A Qualitative Assessment

Authors: Luis E. Zayas, J. Curtis McMillen, Madeline Y. Lee, Samantha J. Books

Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research | Issue 3/2013

Abstract

Behavioral health organizations have been increasingly required to implement plans to monitor and improve service quality. This qualitative study explores challenges that quality assurance and improvement (QA/I) personnel experience in performing their job in those practice settings. Sixteen QA/I personnel from different agencies in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A., were interviewed face-to-face using a semi-structured instrument to capture challenges and a questionnaire to capture participant and agency characteristics. Data analysis followed a grounded theory approach. Challenges involved agency resources, agency buy-in, personnel training, competing demands, shifting standards, authority, and research capacity. Further research is needed to assess these challenges given expected outcomes.

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Title: Challenges to Quality Assurance and Improvement Efforts in Behavioral Health Organizations: A Qualitative Assessment
Authors: Luis E. Zayas
J. Curtis McMillen
Madeline Y. Lee
Samantha J. Books
Publication date: 01-05-2013
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research / Issue 3/2013
Print ISSN: 0894-587X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3289
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-011-0393-5

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