Managing outcome performance in mental health using HoNOS: experience at St Andrew's Healthcare

Abstract

Aims and Method Modern mental healthcare providers must demonstrate service-level clinical effectiveness to key stakeholders. We introduced two performance indicators of clinical effectiveness based on outcome data from routinely collected Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) and HoNOS–secure assessments across St Andrew's Healthcare, a charity providing in-patient services in Northampton and Essex. We present outcome data from the period 2004–2007. Results The indicators showed consistent 90-day improvement rates and increasing stability over time. the validity of results is supported by levels of change along predicted lines among different patient cohorts. Clinical Implications It is possible and beneficial to use routine outcome measures to demonstrate clinical effectiveness at service level. the future of managing mental health outcomes will be in electronic health records systems.