Why is STAR so important?

A key premise underlying Substance Use Disorder (SUD) service delivery is that SUD services have a positive influence on recipients of SUD services as well as on the systems with which they interact, such as law enforcement or social welfare agencies. This concept has been discussed in a number of Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIPs) and Technical Assistance Publications (TAPs) published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). As the leaders of Pennsylvania’s Substance Use Disorder system of care the Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs (BDAP), counties, and providers are responsible for demonstrating the impact of SUD services on service recipients and the systems they interact within. Accountability for SUD service delivery and successful outcomes in Pennsylvania is of key interest to the Pennsylvania Leadership and communities they represent, SAMHSA and other federal agencies. SUD service recipients and the families count on a system that works effectively and benefits them. By implementing and collecting data through the STAR Data System Pennsylvania will possess the information necessary to fulfill this obligation.

The successful collection of SUD service recipient outcome data is necessary in order to identify what is working well for the SUD system and what is not. Therefore, collecting outcomes information facilitates the improvement of service delivery. In this respect the launch of STAR an outcomes measurement system is the key to ensuring continuous quality improvement and thus to positively impact the lives of SUD service recipients and their families, communities, and public health and social systems in Pennsylvania.

What can STAR do for your organization?

Regardless of your specific role in Pennsylvania’s Substance Use Disorder (SUD) service delivery, i.e. a state office, a SCA, or a provider, service recipient outcome data is beneficial to your organization for a number of reasons. In striving to provide the best, most efficient and worthwhile services and to be exemplary organizations, we must first be aware of what services are most needed. And if these services are being delivered effectively and usefully to those who receive them, and if our dollars are being spent in ways that are verifiably prudent and cost-effective.

Because SUD service recipient outcome data is quantitative and can be plotted on graphs, it provides tangible indicators of performance that can help to make clear linkages to key processes and desired results. This helps us to measure effectiveness of our services or programs. In fact, continuous quality improvement is impossible without quantitative outcome measures.

In addition to fiscal and organizational evaluation benefits, SUD service recipient outcome data can assist in identifying trends and help us to more easily identify the needs of the individuals whom we serve. This assists us in remaining current, relevant, and focused on delivering the most appropriate services, programs and supports. Since the measures, not the managers at any given level of the system are driving service provision this also provides continuity and consistency for the system, regardless of any personnel changes that might occur.

There are many ways the treatment process is done effectively in the commonwealth. The path we are all on together is to find the best and most effective way to provide these services to our citizens. STAR will empower all of us to make this a reality by first defining standardization and then allowing us to see not only our client successes, but our failures as well through SUD outcome measures.

Ultimately, outcomes validate the work that we do…people do recover from substance use disorders, they do live productive lives, and the services that we provide create healthy behaviors and saves lives!