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.
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.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10488-011-0393-5
- Authors
- Luis E. Zayas, School of Social Work, Arizona State University, 411 N. Central Ave., Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ 85004-0689, USA
- J. Curtis McMillen, School of Social Services Administration, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Madeline Y. Lee, School of Social Work, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Samantha J. Books, School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Journal Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research
- Online ISSN 1573-3289
- Print ISSN 0894-587X