FAST Information System

1
FAST Information System

• Farrokh Alemi, PhD

2
Design Basis

• Interviews of interested parties
• Administrative Office of U.S. Courts PACTS
• Current system (MHIS CAP BMC)
• Current forms
• Standardized instruments for outcome evaluations
• Addiction Severity Index, Composite International
  Diagnostic Interview, Texas Christian University
  Risk assessment, Treatment Fidelity Scale.

3
Minimum Data

• Minimum data set necessary for tracking cases
• Not a medical record but a case tracking
  system.
• A previous system went unused.
• Limited number of open ended commentary.

4
Flexible

• Normalized database design
• Data stored differently than input forms
• Allows several inputs for same field (e.g.
  persons address)
• Data kept in one place even when it has multiple
  uses
• Allows for easy searches and reports. For
  example, all clients cared for by a provider
  working at two treatment services can be found in
  one place
• Only facts kept. Composites of facts calculated.
• Codes entered as data
• Allows easy change over time

Current system was not in Normal form
5
Normalization

• Counter-intuitive data structures
• Leads to numerous tables
• Basis of all modern database structures
• Difficult to set up, easy to use modify

6
Event Based

• Does not include various client assessments
• Includes milestones behind assessments
• For example, treatment participation is included
  while client attitudes towards readiness for
  treatment not included.
• Rates estimated from time to event
• For example, frequency of drug use is estimated
  from time between reported use

7
Added Outcomes

• Treatment participation
• Hospitalization
• Self report of relapse
• Drug test results
• Medication compliance
• Clinic visit and diagnoses
• Conflict abuse within key relations

• Change in weapon permits
• Loss of childrens custody
• Employment
• Educational progress
• HIV/AIDS risks test results
• Recidivism
• Homelessness

8
Multiple Identity

• Allowed a person to have multiple roles
• An arrested defendant who becomes an outreach
  provider.
• A FAST social worker who also works part time at
  a mental health clinic.
• Allowed a client to have multiple names aliases
• Allowed images of clients and markers

9
Secure Online

• Encrypted Personal Identifiers
• Trail of tables visited or modified
• No physical deletion. All entries kept.

10
Data Access

• Faxed paper reports to central database
• Current process
• Web access
• Allows tailored input forms for various providers
• Email reminders
• PDA access
• Allows providers who do not have computers easy
  access
• Data transfers
• Between jail system FAST information system
• Between VA system FAST information system

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Probation Officers Can Use PDA for Reporting
Outcomes
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Sample Elements in the System
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Elements of Criminal Justice
14
Case Plan Elements
15
Client Information Elements
16
Drug Use Test Elements
17
Elements to Describe a Person
18
Elements to Monitor Progress
19
Elements to Describe Services
20
Elements to Set Security
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Details of Data Elements

• Provided in Attached Report

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Actions Recommended

• Walk through of one to five clients
• Revisions in the data structures
• Construction of input forms and output reports
• Completion of system
• Training