Increase Continuation between Levels of Care

These promising practices help increase continuation between levels of care—i.e., between detox and residential treatment, etc. Transitions are referrals from previous levels of care. Increased transitions become increased admissions to the next level of care.

Question

How will we rapidly know a change promotes effective transitions and increases continuation to the next level of care?

Answer

The percent of referred clients who are admitted to the next level of care will increase. Use the Referred Clients Admitted Tracking Form for transition clients to track your baseline and rapid-cycle change data.

Promising Practices

Learn what others have done, how they did it, lessons from the field, and how to test each promising practice using rapid PDSA cycles.

Use the following promising practices as inspiration for change in your organization—re-invent them, improve on them and be creative—and let us know what happens so that we can continue to enrich and expand the library of change ideas available to the entire NIATx network.

Promising practices to increase transitions fall into two categories:

Eliminate Barriers

• Encourage Referrers to Make the First Appointment while the Client is Present
• Streamline Paperwork between Levels of Care
• Collaborate with Referrers to Streamline the Process
• Overlap Levels of Care
• Blend Levels of Care
• Use Video Conferencing
• Hold Joint Staffings

Enhance Motivation

• Offer a Tour Guide
• Map Out Continuing Care
• Include Family and Friends
• Use Motivational Interviewing during Treatment
• Offer Telephone Support
• Use Motivational Incentives
• Collaborate with Referrers to Motivate Clients
• Orient Clients
• Transition Clients to the Next Level of Care as Soon as They are Ready