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A community ability scale for chronically mentally Ill consumers: Part II. Applications

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Abstract

The authors describe uses for a 17-item instrument that efficiently measures the functioning level of chronically mentally ill persons living in the community. The Multnomah Community Ability Scale is designed to be completed by case managers who work with chronically mentally ill consumers. The instrument is sensitive to differences among individuals within this special population of consumers and is easy to complete. Community mental health program staff can be trained to use the scale reliably. The scale has been used to compare levels of severity between urban and rural community mental health program clients. The authors discuss the application of the Multnomah Community Ability Scale to a capitated payment system for severely mentally ill, involuntary clients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Network Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., 5415 S.E. Milwaukie Ave., 97202, Porland, Oregon

    Sela Barker M.S.W., L.C.S.W. (Training Coordinator and Quality Assurance Manager) & Terry Carnahan M.Sc. (information systems consultant)

  2. Multnomah County Community and Family Services, Portland, Oregon

    Nancy Barron Ph.D. (Program Evaluation Specialist)

  3. Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon

    Bentson H. McFarland M.D., Ph.D. (Associate Professor of Psychiatry)

  4. British Columbia Ministry of Health, Victoria, British Columbia

    Douglas A. Bigelow Ph.D. (Clinical Director of Alcohol and Drug Programs)

Authors
  1. Sela Barker M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
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  2. Nancy Barron Ph.D.
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  3. Bentson H. McFarland M.D., Ph.D.
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  4. Douglas A. Bigelow Ph.D.
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  5. Terry Carnahan M.Sc.
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Barker, S., Barron, N., McFarland, B.H. et al. A community ability scale for chronically mentally Ill consumers: Part II. Applications. Community Ment Health J 30, 459–472 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02189063

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02189063

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