Description
The development of the Level of Care Utilization System for Psychiatric and Addiction Services (LOCUS) by the American Association of Community Psychiatrists will be described. LOCUS and its derivatives were developed to address some of the weaknesses of proprietary and often self-serving medical necessity criteria, and to provide an objective standard for service intensity decisions. The LOCUS Family of Tools (LFTs) provide a flexible and user-friendly approach to developing service intensity recommendations for persons with either or both psychiatric disorders and addictions. LOCUS provides a quantifiable, dimensional assessment of need and describes a service continuum that includes both clinical and supportive elements in the service array. The simple structure of LOCUS allows for easy conversion of assessment scores to level of care recommendations and provides a framework for progress documentation and treatment planning in which a service user can participate. It reduces the impact of clinician bias regarding treatment recommendations. Developments in the dissemination and ancillary uses of the tools will be described along with discussion of value management.
Format
Recorded webinar, non-interactive, self-paced distance learning activity with post-test.
This presentation was recorded on October 27, 2022.
Learning Objectives
Discuss historical, economic, and clinical rationale for the development of standardized and reliable utilization systems for behavioral health.
Explain the relationship between the use of LOCUS and the enhanced value of services delivered.
Describe the basic structure of the LOCUS and its unique features
Outline
- Problems with traditional medical necessity criteria
- Level of care and service intensity
- Placement recommendations
Target Audience
Psychiatrist, Physician Assistant, Nurse/Nurse Practitioner, Psychologist, Counselor, Social Worker, Peer Specialist/Peer Support
Instructional Level
Intermediate
Estimate Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 1.0 hour
Program Start Date: July 30, 2025
Program End Date: July 30, 2028
Ongoing Interdisciplinary Discussion Board
After completing the course, engage with colleagues in the mental health field through the Webinar Roundtable Topics discussion board. This is an easy way to network and share ideas with other clinicians who participate in this webinar. Access through the discussion tab.
How to Earn Credit
After evaluating the activity, participants will be provided with an opportunity evaluate the activity and, claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (non-physicians) showing the event date and hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
In support of improving patient care, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
The APA designates this live event for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Psychologists
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
Social Workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. APA maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive up to 1.00 general continuing education credits.
***Continuing education requirements vary from state to state. Many state boards grant reciprocity with national accrediting organizations and other state boards. It is the responsibility of each professional to understand the requirements for license renewal or check with the state or national licensing board and/or professional organization to become more familiar with their policies for acceptable continuing education credit. Social workers and Psychologists should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Instructors
- Wesley E. Sowers, MD is Director of the Center for Public Service Psychiatry and Program Director of the Public Service Psychiatry Fellowship at University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Sowers has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Planners
- Teri Brister, PhD, LPC, National Alliance on Mental Illness. Dr. Brister has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Amy Cohen, PhD, American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Cohen has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- John Torous, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Torous has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Sherin Khan, LCSW, Thresholds. Ms. Khan has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
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Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
- The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.
Optimal System Configuration:
- Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
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Minimum Requirements:
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- Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
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