Mid-Ohio Behavioral Health, LLC
Introduction
2022 Strategic Plan
Mid-Ohio Behavioral Health’s strategic plan incorporates information from a variety of sources including stakeholders, consumers, and family members. The strategic planning is considered an evolving process and will be reviewed and updated on an annual basis.
The document has been organized using the CARF-recommended format, along with the addition of a human resource section. Within each section, there is an analysis of (1) strengths/opportunities and (2) weaknesses/threats and (3) a goals statement and (4) responsibilities.
Mid-Ohio strategic plan will be accessible to stakeholders, the general public and consumers by being distributed via:
- Mid-Ohio’s website;
- Displayed at sites;
- Individual copies to Mid-Ohio board members;
- Available for review by Mid-Ohio employees.
Expectations of Persons Served
Strengths/Opportunities
Consumer satisfaction surveys are conducted on an annual basis. Survey results for FY 2021 indicate over 90% of respondents rated their service as good or excellent. Mid-Ohio Behavioral monitors consumer access to services annually. There were minimal comments on the time it took to get into services.
Weaknesses/Threats
Mid-Ohio is striving to serve as many individuals as possible, however; the ever-increasing changes to the Ohio Department of Mental Health’s Medicaid program causes an issue with the overall future sustainability of Medicaid for some consumers.
Goals
A major goal will be to better communicate and work with consumers and family members to manage the consumer’s care. We will know communication efforts have improved by seeing an overall improvement in client outcomes. A critical goal of Mid-Ohio is to build a complete Care Coordination program for all consumers. There have been some challenges to this new program, but it seems to be growing daily.
Mid-Ohio considers the satisfaction of clients, stakeholders and personnel to be at the very core of importance. It shall be a goal that FY 2022 is to redesign the client satisfaction survey program that will reflect changes within the dynamics of Medicaid.
Responsibilities:
Mid-Ohio’s employees continuously work on exceeding consumer expectations and the company mission. The Management Team will continue to work toward a Care Coordination program for all consumers. All team members along with the Human Resource department will continue to recruit and hire all open positions. The Performance Improvement Committee will continue to gauge overall consumer satisfaction throughout the year and will report on these findings.
Expectations of Other Stakeholders
Strengths/Opportunities
Management and program staff are always eager to understand and develop collaborations with stakeholders, to bridge the gap between expectations and reality related to the development and implementation of services. In other words, we always want to clearly articulate what we can do and what we cannot do and explain why. We plan to continue the practice of surveying stakeholders as a means of gauging program awareness of Mid-Ohio services.
In addition, we have established more open communication and collegial relationships with a number of external stakeholders, including local hospitals, courts, school systems, etc.
Weaknesses/Threats
In many areas, stakeholders continue to have high expectations of area service providers. Due to serious budget cutbacks, many area agencies are reducing services.
Goals
To alleviate this situation, Mid-Ohio is expanding in service areas and staffing. We plan to meet the areas expectations in terms of scope, availability and accessibility of many programs and services.
This includes the need to recruit additional providers, including licensed therapists, nurses and practitioners.
Mid-Ohio will strive to obtain feedback from a variety of stakeholder sources, with an emphasis being placed on the following:
- School Systems in the communities we serve
- Referral Sources
- Legal System
- Job and Family Services
Responsibilities
The Performance Improvement Committee which comprises much of the Management Team is responsible for surveying stakeholders yearly. The results of the stakeholder survey are discussed. To address staffing constraints, Human Resources will continue to seek highly qualified and effective individuals to fill positions.
The Competitive Environment
Strengths/Opportunities
Mid-Ohio has many strengths which include a broad array of services, the goodwill of the communities we serve, positive name recognition and a core of dedicated and experienced staff.
Mid-Ohio has maintained several evidence-based or promising practices. Some are continuing to evolve, while others have been a mainstay of Mid-Ohio services.
Weaknesses/Threats
Managing clinical services in a multi-site organization complicates the dissemination of information and the provision of training opportunities.
Goals
Continue the provision of quality services by maintaining fidelity to the evidence-based practices presently in use by Mid-Ohio clinical staff; ensure that new staff are trained in the techniques/methods of evidence-based practices in a timely manner after being hired.
Become recognized as a local leader in the effort to improve Care Coordination program and overall health outcomes.
Responsibilities
The Management Team Members will be responsible to ensure that these goals are met in the timeframe that has been established. Responsible parties will ensure that funding and training are reviewed often to allow for the continuation of competitive practices.
CareLogic and Dialpad Plus will continue to work toward health record upgrades and implementation.
Financial Opportunities
Strengths/Opportunities
Mid-Ohio management continually scans the environment in search of new sources of revenue. A direct result of these efforts was the establishment of a Mid-Ohio’s acceptance of commercial insurance services in 2021. The billing service continues to generate revenue and is an asset to consumers who without it, would not be able to receive the services they need.
Weaknesses/Threats
The expectation from stakeholders and the community providers could provide levels of uncompensated care is a continuing source of tension.
Goals
Mid-Ohio will continue to seek ways to enhance revenue by fully employing new billing software, streamline clerical and billing functions across all sites, streamline authorizations for services to managed care clients, and reduce denial rates.
Mid-Ohio will continue to refine service delivery methods and seek ways to improve staff productivity while maintaining the highest standard of care possible.
Responsibilities
The Chief Financial Officer in concert with W3 Accounting will ensure that Mid-Ohio remains fiscally sound and that payments are posted efficiently and accurately. Management staff will report any financial opportunity available (programs, etc.) that will aide in the overall mission of Mid-Ohio to provide effective care to consumers.
Financial Threats
Strengths/Opportunities
Mid-Ohio continues to benefit from a dedicated and professional staff, particularly from individual clinicians who strive to meet or exceed productivity standards. Mid-Ohio is developing a plan to become an approved site location for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) to assist independently licensed clinicians the opportunities to have their loans forgiven in exchange for a commitment to work for Mid-Ohio.
Weaknesses/Threats
Personnel costs, particularly health insurance benefits for staff, continue to escalate. Personnel costs are also adversely affected by the limited number of licensed professional staff available in the region.
Goals
Continue to maintain reasonable administrative expenditures and seek ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality.
Responsibilities
Management Team will work with Human Resources to maintain the current staff and build additional staff members to fulfill current and future needs.
Service Area Needs
Strengths/Opportunities
Mid-Ohio has worked with multiple stakeholders to expand over the last two years into Franklin County. Franklin County officially opened one month prior to Covid-19 office closures.
Weaknesses/Threats
Some stakeholders hold unrealistic expectations of the community mental health system. Mid-Ohio’s priority is to expand in service area’s and meet those expectations and needs.
Goals
Continue to develop collaborations to address the multifaceted needs of persons with emotional and mental illnesses.
Continue to work on access to services and develop strategies to decrease wait time for psychiatric care, outpatient counseling and diagnostic assessment service appointments.
Responsibilities
All Mid-Ohio staff is tasked with continually identifying service needs and reporting those needs to their supervisor. Mid-Ohio’s priority is to expand in service area’s and meet those expectations and needs.
Regulatory Environment
Strengths/Opportunities
Mid-Ohio is fortunate to have experienced staff in key management positions. This experience has served Mid-Ohio well in meeting certification requirements of a number of regulatory bodies including the Ohio Department of Mental Health (OMHAS) and the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
Weaknesses/Threats
Our staff members have training needs in terms of (1) individualized position requirements (2) departmental standards, and (3) professional licensure requirements. These multiple demands tend to have a negative effect on staff productivity.
Goals
Earn a three-year CARF reaccreditation at the April 2022 survey.
Responsibilities
Management Team
Legislative Environment
Strengths/Opportunities
Presumably, under the Medicaid Redesign, mental health care will be more accessible to more people. Further, the Ohio Revised Code is designed to replace Ohio Medicaid with Medicaid Managed Care.
Weaknesses/Threats
Some consumers will lose coverage due to Medicaid Redesign.
Goals
Address the elements of the Redesign in a methodical and systematic manner;
Responsibilities
Leadership Team
Human Resources
Strengths/Opportunities
HR department staff are available on a continuous basis to provide basic personnel information, interpret personnel policy and procedure, answer employee questions related to benefits such as health insurance, retirement, FMLA, workers compensation questions/claims, overtime or other labor law topics and help with conflict resolution.
Further, the department handles most recruitment responsibilities, including advertising, screening resumes and applicants. HR staff ensures well maintained employee personnel files and monitors access to these files to ensure accuracy and confidentiality.
Weaknesses/Threats
It is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit credentialed staff, particularly independently licensed therapists. Mid-Ohio often is constrained by geography.
Goals
The HR Department will stay abreast of the latest developments in recruitment strategies and monitor compensation and benefit trends within the industry to ensure Mid-Ohio remains as competitive as is financially feasible.
A major goal is to offer competitive salary/benefit options to employees and to recruit and retain highly motivated, skilled personnel who will make a commitment to Mid-Ohio and its reputation in the community.
Responsibilities
Human Resources Department
Technology
Strengths/Opportunities
The IT department is responsible for maintaining multiple systems for Mid-Ohio such as the CareLogic and Dialpad.
Weaknesses/Threats
There are always surprises that can happen daily from a basic PC problem, to server failures. Additional threats are external and can be such things as internet-based problems, firewall function that PC’s are up to date with their antivirus software, and E-mail is being scanned.
Goals
The biggest goals are to try and stay up-to-date with the latest technology practices and keep our IT infrastructure a safe environment for all.
Responsibilities
IT Department
Organization’s Capabilities
Strengths/Opportunities
We are a comprehensive behavioral health agency that is currently working toward integrated care. The potential and overall capabilities of Mid-Ohio are very strong. Staff are experienced, dedicated to the mission and compassionate with their care. Mid-Ohio infrastructure is strong and meets our needs. Mid-Ohio enjoys accreditation from CARF and Ohio Department of Mental Health. All clinic sites have a high favorability rating in the communities they serve, and clients truly benefit from offered services.
Weaknesses/Threats
Funding continues to be a factor in many areas of service delivery. While Mid-Ohio goes great distances to provide uncompensated care for consumers.
Goals
Mid-Ohio will continue to look for additional sources of funding to have the ability to provide more care in the communities in which we serve.
Responsibilities
Management Team
Information from the Analysis of Performance
Strengths/Opportunities
Mid-Ohio understands the importance of ensuring that the collection of data is brought into the strategic planning process to improve overall business function and service delivery.
Mid-Ohio has a very experienced staff that acknowledges the importance of performance analysis and takes an active role in reviewing data, conducting focus reviews on identified trends, and integrating this information into Mid-Ohio performance improvement.
In 2022, Mid-Ohio published the Strategic Plan on the website for the public to review as well as making copies available at each front desk location in all clinics to ensure that clients and stakeholders had access to the plan and its contents.
Weaknesses/Threats
One identified weakness was the Best Notes EHR program and the difficulty of learning how to run reports from this software program. Due to this weakness Mid-Ohio has moved to CareLogic for its EHR.
Goals
Mid-Ohio will continue to work with CareLogic to develop new ways of gathering information and to learn more about the system.
Responsibilities
Performance Improvement Committee
Demographics of Service Area
Strengths/Opportunities
Mid-Ohio’s census in FY 21 was 3,782. The demographic information shows a continuous growth. Mid-Ohio has worked to establish key partnership with the local schools, physician offices, hospitals and other providers to ensure that our services are reaching a variety of consumers with different needs.
*Based on Demographic Information collected from quarters 1-4 of FY 2021
Weaknesses/Threats
Most of our growth during the 2021 has been clients with commercial insurance, although the weakness is slow payments from insurance companies and clients inability to pay co-pays.
Goals
Mid-Ohio will continue to reach out to serve all consumers with a variety of resources and services. Our marketing plan is to focus on the youth market for our child and adolescent programs and services.
Responsibilities
All Staff