Is OMH planning on making available template forms for treatment plans, intake interviews, progress notes, etc. which will address the emphasis on these Standards of Care?
No. While there is a project underway to develop a record keeping format that could be utilized by outpatient programs licensed by OMH and other agencies, and would satisfy the requirements of multiple regulatory entities, there is currently no specific format or record system which is required or meets the needs of all clinics. The Standards of Care Anchors describe elements of sound clinical practice and do not prescribe an instrument or format for documentation. While agencies are free to develop forms that meet their unique needs, the inclusion of relevant information and the quality of the content are the most important factors to be addressed. It has been suggested that Concurrent Collaborative Progress Notes were the ‘way to go’. What about uninterrupted direct face to face contact as the best way to achieve high rates of engagement and retention in our clinics? Concurrent documentation does not require the clinician to take notes during a session or to detach themselves from th
