- October 2, 2013
- Jennifer Salerno
Looking to further validate your center’s effectiveness? Need timely data for grant reporting or program needs? Consider transitioning to the online version of RAAPS.
A key and useful feature of the online version of RAAPS is access to risk data. Prior to having an online system, clinicians would have to counsel hundreds of teens with paper surveys and had no way of easily tracking individual outcomes or reviewing all of the risk data that had been collected, outside of time-intensive chart reviews full of human error. So, when building the reporting features, the RAAPS team asked clinicians what questions they had about their teen populations and created reports that responded to such questions as:
- – What is the effectiveness of the risk counseling I am providing?
- – What are the greatest risks in my teen population?
- – Are my programs and services focused on the greatest risks?
Teen risks change over time, and having accessible data that reveals changing trends is critical for professionals serving adolescent populations. For example, a review of RAAPS 2012 data shows a significant increase in mental health risks among teens, even surpassing the usual issues of teen drinking, drugs and unprotected sex.
Used in care settings ranging from hospital outpatient clinics to school-based health centers, and with a benchmark database of more than 33,000 completed surveys, RAAPS’ innovative approach has engaged teens and improved the effectiveness of both the identification and reduction of risk behaviors. And the data from RAAPS has been used to change service at all levels.
To learn more about RAAPS, view our website or read the latest article featured in Drug Store News highlighting how RAAPS is changing practices to improve adolescent health care.