I worked at an agency that implemented this standard with their therapists. My observation was that it was extremely counterproductive in three important ways.
1) It led to tension between the agency and their employees especially those who worked with children who felt they were being punished for doing important work like coordinating with other providers, coordinating with schools. talking with parents, no shows, people arriving late for their appointments, researching information and resources to support people, consulting with colleagues, and attending meetings and trainings.
2) It led to conflict between clinicians and their supervisors who felt unappreciated when they were told they were "unproductive" despite their hard work.
3) Within 1 year all of the child therapists and 80% of the entire staff had left. This left a department that was more "productive" while also being less effective.
At that agency they calculated by adding up the number of billable minutes (pulled from the EMR) and dividing it into the amount that person was paid for in a given time period.
Menachem Hojda LMSW
Recipient Rights Trainer
Oakland Community Health Network
5505 Corporate Drive
Troy, MI 48098
Desk PH: 248.858.7833
Cell: 248.953.0051
hojdam@oaklandchn.org
www.oaklandchn.org
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