Abstract: Business Effectiveness Assessment Module Practice Improvement Network (BEAMPIN) (Society for Social Work and Research 20th Annual Conference - Grand Challenges for Social Work: Setting a Research Agenda for the Future)

Schedule:

Friday, January 15, 2016: 8:30 AM

Meeting Room Level-Mount Vernon Square B (Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel)

* noted as presenting author

Micaela Mercado, PhD, MSW, Senior Research Associate, New York University, New York, NY

Mary McKay, PhD, Professor and Director, McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy & Research, New York University, New York, NY

Andrew Cleek, PsyD, Senior Research Scientist, New York University, New York, NY

Background and Purpose: This study examines the impact of the [name]. Drawing upon lessons learned from the Clinic Technical Assistance Center’s (CTAC) Business Efficiencies and Effectiveness Project (BEEP), the [name] was designed to assist NYS behavioral health clinics engage in a comprehensiveself-assessment process of their business and organizational practices for the purpose of directing an individualized improvement process. The project involved web-based convening of diverse safety net provider organizations to field organizational strengthening initiatives and participate in tailored in-depth training of use of increasingly sophisticated financial benchmarking, strategic planning and forecasting tools, thus enhancing social work leadership in core business oriented capacities.

Methods: 84 clinics volunteered to participate in the [name]. Deata on clinic characteristics (size, region, and affiliation) and three indicator performance measures: net operating costs, productivity, and no-show rates was collected over time. Participants also completed pre and post-test assessments that measured individuals’ knowledge on the full range of financial competencies overed.

Findings: At post-test, participants had significantly more knowledge and reported having a better understanding of clinic finances prior to participation. Forty-one clinics were able to fully complete their financial benchmarking tool and their data was benchmarked to similar clinics across the state to serve as an additional data point for quality improvement planning.

Conclusion and Implications: Data suggests that the [name] trainings and PIN have the potential to improve clinic financial knowledge that is needed to enhance business and organizational competencies of public safety leadership. Additional research is needed to examine decision-making processes and implementation changes clinics make over time based on the usefulness of the financial benchmarking tool.