ATLANTA – Today the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) released its first-ever Quality Management System Annual Report for developmental disability services. The report looks at the effectiveness of service delivery from the perspective of the individuals served and measures providers’ compliance with the department’s policies, procedures and training requirements.

“This report is the first of its kind in Georgia, and will help guide our work as we build on and improve our provider network,” said Beverly Rollins, Executive Director for the Division of Developmental Disabilities.

The report is the result of interviews with over 1,200 individuals receiving services as well as reviews of provider records, on-site observations, and interviews with providers conducted between July 2008 and June 2009. Developing a quality management system required more than simply collecting data, however. Over the past year, the Division of Developmental Disabilities put in place the policies and tools, including a web-based application, to continue collecting information, started Quality Improvement Councils in each of the department’s five regions and one statewide, put in place a database for tracking and trending critical incidents, and completed 30 training sessions across the five regions.

“A key goal for our division is gathering and sharing more information in better ways,” said Rollins. “We now have in place the tools we need to do that.”

Information for the report was researched and compiled by the Delmarva Foundation. The Quality Management System is based on a framework from the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services/ Home and Community Based Services. The report not only meets federal regulatory requirements but will also help enhance the effectiveness of person-centered service delivery for more than 13,000 Georgia residents with lifelong physical and intellectual disabilities.

For more information, please visit www.dbhdd.georgia.gov or www.dfmc-georgia.org.

Contact Information:

Kristie N. Swink ([email protected])