I hope this post finds you, your loved ones, and colleagues, safe and healthy.
What an amazing few weeks this has been. Daily life, as most of us know it, has been turned upside down. The clinicians I’ve spoken with are working frantically to adjust to the new reality, including staying abreast of rapidly evolving healthcare regulation and learning how to provide services online.
I cannot think of a time in recent memory when the need to adapt has more pressing. As everyone knows, feedback plays a crucial role in this process.
Last week, I reported a surge in downloads of the Outcome and Session Rating Scales (ORS & SRS), up 21% over the preceding three months. Independent, randomized controlled trials document clients are two and a half times more likely to benefit from therapy when their feedback is solicited via the measures and used to inform care. Good news, eh? Practitioners are looking for methods to enhance their work in these new and challenging circumstances. Only problem is the same research shows it takes time to learn to use the measures effectively — and that’s under the best or, at least, most normal of circumstances!
Given that we are far from normal, the team at the International Center for Clinical Excellence, in combination with longtime technology and continuing education partners, have been working to provide the resources necessary for practitioners to make the leap to online services. In my prior post, a number of tips were shared, including empirically-validating scripts for oral administration of the ORS and SRS as well as instructional videos for texting, email, and online use via the three, authorized FIT software platforms.
We are not done. Below, you will find two, new instructional videos from ICCE Certified Trainers, Stacy Bancroft and Brooke Mathewes. They provide step-by-step instructions and examples of how to administer the measures orally — a useful skill if you are providing services online or via the telephone.
Two additional resources:
- On April 15th at 5:00 p.m. CENTRAL time, I will be hosting a second, free online discussion for practitioners interested in feedback informed treatment and deliberate practice. Although all are welcome to join, the particular time has been chosen to accommodate colleagues in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. To join, you must register. Here’s the link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_c5eousjqQRChSSQSj3AQZg.
- My dear colleague, Elizabeth Irias at Clearly Clinical, has made a series of podcasts about the COVID-19 pandemic available for free (including CE’s). What could be better than “earning while you are learning,” with courses about transitioning to online services and understanding the latest research on the psychological impact of the virus on clients.
OK, that’s it for now.
Until next time,
Scott
Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.
Director, International Center for Clinical Excellence
Using a Zoom like platform helped model distance. Providing content, demonstrating competency, and reviewing is an elegant process. This is refreshing. Brief videos that clearly demonstrate the use of the forms.
As always, thanks for your good work. I do have one comment. I’ve long wanted to do an online version of the ORS and SRS but the prices the current providers charge are really not supportable for a solo practitioner who is trying to get a practice off the ground. I’m making do with a WordPress form I created, but it would be nice if the folks you’ve partnered with would provide a more affordable entry-level option.
Thanks for your email Michael. So, I emailed the various vendors and here are the prices:
Fit-outcomes.com = 150/year
Myoutcomes.om = 95/year
Openfitapp.com = 220/YEAR
Average Cell phone bill per MONTH in 2018 (the last year we have reports) = $114/MONTH, average cable bill (TEL, INT, CAB) = 165.
All offer volume discounts and free trials for 2 months.
Hope this helps.
Scott
Very good and helpful demonstration. Interesting especially in the way the administration of the SRS in a virtual setting leads to the discussion of the the client’s response taking place as they fill out the form. My understanding and experience is that the discussion that takes place following the SRS administration is more important than the score itself. Under normal circumstances that discussion can easily get cut short or missed all together. When done on line or by phone the discussion happens more naturally and is less likely to get missed. This could enhance the quality of the feedback we get and make us more effective.