WITS User Testimonials

Spotlight On ATR - Hawaii Access to Recovery Newsletter
Opening by Bernie Strand, Project Director

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Spotlight on ATR! A collaborative work by all members of the ATR staff, Spotlight on ATR brings you monthly information on agencies and individuals within the ATR network and helpful feature articles that share sound fiscal management ideas, quality assurance practices, and other news and tips we hope you find interesting and helpful.
While designed for print, Spotlight on ATR will initially be distributed in electronic format. Print versions of this issue will be available from ATR staff at the ADAD offices in Kapolei. We hope you decide to print out copies of this issue of Spotlight on ATR and share them with your staff, boards of directors, clients, and other stakeholders interested in what is happening in the ATR Ohana...

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Success with WITS
by Patrick J. Fleming, MPA, LSAC

..."SLCo's participation in WITS was a very easy decision. SLCo agreed to bear the costs of implementation, code modification, and help desk/hosting services. We asked our providers to work on a series of development and implementation teams. We wanted the system to be designed by its users, so we had providers chair the various committees, including the steering committee (table). Although the county could veto any actions taken by the steering and implementation committees, it never did.

After 12 months we implemented the system in mid-2005 and have been improving it since. Modifications and changes usually are driven by our providers, with the county bearing the cost. SLCo basically got a $2.5 million software package for the cost of 0.75 FTE and saw no reduction in services to its citizens. The yearly operating cost is about $300,000."

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Crossing state lines to build better software
Public agencies can reduce costs by working together to develop IT systems
by Dave Wanser, PhD

Real policy benefits accrue from pooling resources and sharing the workload in developing electronic systems, whether they are full EHRs or simply automated reporting systems for agencies not ready to use all the functionality of an EHR. First and foremost, these systems actually can improve the quality of client care. Second, they can help improve administrative practices and procedures. Third, they can standardize reporting functions across a state or county, or even nationally, making it easier to fulfill mandatory reporting requirements and ensure data quality is maintained. They also can help position public behavioral healthcare service systems for inclusion in future standards development related to paperless, Web-based transaction systems. Integration and interoperability across large numbers of providers, and potentially different funding streams, are a real benefit for states and counties that sponsor these systems.

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