DBHDS Press Releases

For Immediate Release: November 3, 2009
[ link to pdf ]

DBHDS Announces New Accountability Effort
Statewide information on services system posted on Web site for the public to access

Richmond, VA – The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) announced today the initial posting of Web-based accountability measures on its public Web site. Part of a multi-year project, the data includes performance and outcome data about the publicly-funded behavioral health and developmental services system, including the 40 locally-run community services boards (CSBs) and the 16 department-operated mental health hospitals and intellectual disability training centers. The data can be found here: www.dbhds.virginia.gov/WAM.htm.

“While DBHDS has implemented continuous quality improvement programs over the years, this is the first time so much information on our whole system has been made available to the public in an easily accessible one-stop shop,” said DBHDS Commissioner James Reinhard, M.D. “This allows others to take a deeper look into Virginia’s public system and see where we are excelling and where more work is needed.”

This effort reflects a shared commitment of the public behavioral health and developmental services providers and the state to the continuous quality improvement process. Currently, data is collected by DBHDS from the state facilities and the CSBs and is reported to the Governor, the General Assembly and to federal funding agencies. By compiling the data and posting it to its Web site, DBHDS will provide a forum for the public to easily access information. Furthermore, data since 2005 will be included on the site so that trends can be analyzed.

The measures, which include Virginia Performs information and data on individuals served, were developed collaboratively with input from individuals receiving services, family members, advocacy groups, representatives from CSBs and state facility directors. Data used to produce the performance and outcome measures are derived from reports to the department from state facilities and CSBs. Currently, statewide data on the Web site includes:

Number of individuals served in CSBs and state facilities;
Demographics of individuals receiving services in CSBs and facilities;
Percentage of the population that received CSB services;
Number of individuals receiving intensive services from CSBs;
Satisfaction rates on CSB services; and
Readmittance rates to state facilities a year after discharge.

The next step is to include regional outcome measures, followed by individual CSB and state facility outcome measures. Measures posted in 2010 will include state hospital length of stays, facility utilization and time waiting to enter treatment. Measures for 2011 will include length of engagement in community services and numbers of individuals on the ready for discharge list.

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Available to citizens statewide, Virginia’s public mental health, intellectual disability and substance abuse services system is comprised of 40 community services boards (CSBs) and 16 state facilities. DBHDS seeks to promote dignity, choice, recovery, and the highest possible level of participation in work, relationships, and all aspects of community life for individuals with a mental illness, intellectual disability or a substance-use disorder.

1220 Bank Street • P.O. Box 1797 • Richmond, Virginia 23218-1797
Phone: (804) 786-3921 • Fax: (804) 371-6638 • Web site: www.dbhds.virginia.gov

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