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Measuring Costs to Community-Based Agencies for Implementation of an Evidence-Based Practice

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Abstract

Healthcare reform has led to an increase in dissemination of evidence-based practices. Cost is frequently cited as a significant yet rarely studied barrier to dissemination of evidence-based practices and the associated improvements in quality of care. This study describes an approach to measuring the incremental, unreimbursed costs in staff time and direct costs to community-based clinics implementing an evidence-based practice through participating in a learning collaborative. Initial implementation costs exceeding those for providing “treatment as usual” were collected for ten clinics implementing trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy through participation in 10-month learning collaboratives. Incremental implementation costs of these ten community-based clinic teams averaged the equivalent of US$89,575 (US$ 2012). The most costly activities were training, supervision, preparation time, and implementation team meetings. Recommendations are made for further research on implementation costs, dissemination of evidence-based practices, and implications for researchers and policy makers.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, Marilyn Cloud, Paul Shanley, Christopher Bory, Kim Campbell, Bob Franks, Michelle Delaney, Cindy Crusto, and Emily Melnick and all of the provider organizations that participated. This work was partially supported by a cooperative agreement with the Department of Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau (grant #0169).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child Health and Development Institute, 270 Farmington Ave., Suite 367, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA

    Jason M. Lang PhD

  2. Department of Psychiatry, UCONN Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA

    Jason M. Lang PhD

  3. Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Jason M. Lang PhD

  4. The Consultation Center, Division of Prevention and Community Research, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Christian M. Connell PhD

Authors
  1. Jason M. Lang PhD
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  2. Christian M. Connell PhD
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Correspondence to Jason M. Lang PhD.

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Lang, J.M., Connell, C.M. Measuring Costs to Community-Based Agencies for Implementation of an Evidence-Based Practice. J Behav Health Serv Res 44, 122–134 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-016-9541-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-016-9541-8

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