The deployment of QuestManager (QM) within Karakter
QuestManager (QM) was initially deployed from the perspective of scientific research and also for the (then still) mandatory ROM measurements, whereby various questionnaires are administered to different respondents over time.
QM has proven itself within our organization as a powerful and flexible tool for collecting and managing patient data via questionnaires, specifically tailored to the mental health sector. A key advantage of QM is the ability to send automated and customized questionnaires to various target groups, such as parents, teachers and adolescents as young as 12 years old. This flexibility is of great importance given the wide variation in ages and stakeholders within the mental health sector. This diversity in respondent groups makes QM ideally suited for multidisciplinary care teams.
QuestManager's comprehensive integration layer.
Another significant plus of QuestManager is the direct access from our Electronic Patient Record (EHR). Clinicians can efficiently view questionnaire outcomes in the QM record, improving continuity of care and treatment planning. The ability to view this data within the same platform contributes not only to streamlining processes, but also to increasing the quality of care by giving practitioners timely access to relevant information. In addition, QM offers the ability to provide data via a data dump (automated) for scientific research.
A valuable addition within QM is the ability to develop and manage your own questionnaires. This offers us as a mental health institution the flexibility that is often lacking in other systems, which are usually tied to preset questionnaires. This freedom allows us to better respond to the specific treatment questions and needs of our patient population. Especially within child and adolescent psychiatry, where customization is often essential, this feature is indispensable.
Further development of QuestManager: Working together on integration and customization
Although QM offers many advantages, we still see some opportunities for further development. We are working closely with Lighthouse, the developer of QuestManager, to make further improvements. An important issue here is the integration of QM with other systems. While QM has robust integration options, the challenge is often with the limited integration capabilities of information from and to third-party systems, such as our EHR or other software used prior to intake. Our goal is to make these integrations smoother, so that information such as personal data, already entered into another system, is automatically loaded into QM. This avoids duplication and minimizes the chance of errors.
We also actively think along with other users within the QM user groups about new functionalities and points for improvement. Here we address both practical issues, such as sharing questionnaire results in complex family dynamics (e.g. with divorced parents), as well as technical integration challenges. We work together with Lighthouse to further develop the software and make it more user-friendly for specific target groups.
Future vision and recommendations for other mental health institutions
Our future vision regarding QuestManager focuses strongly on further optimizing the integration landscape and making the workflow around questionnaires more efficient. An important goal is to completely eliminate duplicate data entry. This would not only save time, but also improve the efficiency and accuracy of data collection. Realizing this vision is challenging, however, as this issue depends on integration capabilities with other systems.
In addition, we want to continue to invest in the user-friendliness of QM. Experience shows that an intuitive and simple interface directly contributes to higher adoption of the system by healthcare providers. Although steps are already being taken in this direction, improving the user experience remains a priority. We see documentation and manuals as a crucial part of this, and we applaud Lighthouse's ongoing efforts to expand and optimize these materials.
From the perspective of the "fillers," an intuitive and simple interface is important because these include busy teachers who make time to fill out questionnaires during a busy workday, as well as parents and children who you want to help get through questionnaires as smoothly as possible during a time when they are already under pressure. Supporting this is the possibility of displaying an explanation prior to the questionnaire. And because the text in the mail with the link to the questionnaire can be adapted to the type of filler. The ability to set this up properly helps to achieve the highest possible number of completed questionnaires. From consultations with other institutions, we get back that our completion rates are higher compared to other organizations.
For mental health institutions considering implementing QuestManager, we recommend a thorough analysis of the specific needs and functionalities relevant to the organization beforehand. QM offers a wide range of options, but not every institution will need all features. Focus on the essential functions that improve day-to-day operations and ensure proper coordination with other systems used within the organization.
Conclusion: QM is a solid foundation for us for the future
QuestManager provides our mental health institution with the flexibility, customization options and integration capabilities that are essential for our specific treatment processes. Although there will always be areas for development, we see QM as a robust and future-oriented platform. Together with Lighthouse and other users, we continue to build on improvements that not only further optimize our internal processes, but also contribute to better care outcomes for our patients.
