CARF AND BOSTON UNIVERSITYS CENTER FOR REHABILITATION EFFECTIVENESS TO HOST OUTCOMES DATA MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE FOR REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS IN TWO LOCATIONS

An educational institute to help rehabilitation professionals capture and maximize rehabilitation outcomes data will be offered on January 30–February 1, 2003, in Tucson, Arizona, and July 13–15, 2003, in Boston.

Boston - An educational institute to help rehabilitation professionals capture and maximize rehabilitation outcomes data will be offered on January 30–February 1, 2003, in Tucson, Arizona, and July 13–15, 2003, in Boston. The institute, Outcomes Institute: Transforming Outcomes Data into Management Information," is sponsored by CARF in conjunction with the Center for Rehabilitation Effectiveness (CRE) at Boston Universitys Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Through individualized computer laboratory instruction and discussions, participants will learn how to manipulate and analyze sample outcomes data, design and assess data collection projects, present findings to various audiences, and plan quality improvement activities. The January institute will be conducted at the Tucson Marriott University Park Hotel with hands-on skills training at the adjacent University of Arizona computer labs. In July, all instruction will be held on the Boston University campus.

The institute is tailored for rehabilitation administrators, directors of quality improvement, and direct service providers who are involved in the design, analysis, and interpretation of outcomes. This institute is applicable to CARF-accredited programs in medical rehabilitation, behavioral health, employment and community services, adult day services, and assisted living as well as nonaccredited programs. Continuing education units are available through the University of Arizona.

Outcomes data management is pivotal to the growth of any rehabilitation center, program, or clinic. The outcomes institute is one way we provide technical assistance and training for outcomes data managers, who can then refine services," said Mary Slavin, Director of Training and Dissemination for CRE. Together with CARF, we empower professionals to improve rehabilitation services."

Among the most frequently cited CARF standards are those requiring the use of outcomes data in managing an accredited rehabilitation program," said Deborah Wilkerson, CARFs Chief Research and Education Officer. CARFs partnership with the Center for Rehabilitation Effectiveness in presenting the institute gives us an opportunity to increase peoples understanding of how to conform to CARF standards and enhance the outcomes for the persons receiving services."

The cost of participating in the three-day institute is $995. A discounted fee of $895 is available for registrations received by June 13 for the Boston institute.

For more information about these institutes or to obtain a brochure, please visit www.bu.edu/cre/courses/CARF2002.html or www.carf.org/pdf/TransOutcomes.pdf; or contact Lana Katunskaya, CRE, at (617) 353﷓3277 or Francine Turtz, CARF, at (520) 325﷓1044, ext. 103, or fturtz@carf.org.

About CRE

The Center for Rehabilitation Effectiveness (CRE) at Boston Universitys Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is an academic research center that has been created to study exclusively the process and outcomes of rehabilitative services. CRE collaborates with rehabilitation providers to develop effective outcomes measures and information management systems and improve processes of rehabilitation care. For more information about CRE call (617) 353-3277 or visit www.bu.edu/cre. For more information about Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences visit www.bu.edu/sargent.

About CARF

CARF is an international, independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits human services providers. Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, the accrediting body is now known as CARF. At present, CARF has accredited more than 3,700 organizations in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe in the areas of adult day services, assisted living, behavioral health, employment and community services, medical rehabilitation, and opioid treatment programs. For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF web site at www.carf.org or call (520) 325-1044.

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