Using Graphical Feedback to Increase Social Workers' Productivity

Abstract

The survival of any mental health facility in these competitive times will depend upon licensed personnel maintaining optimum levels of billable hours. This study examines the use of graphical feedback to increase the service hours among 6 social workers (SW) who are employed in a public mental health facility. Method: Baseline service hours were collected from archival data for the months of January, 1998 to August, 1998. Beginning in August, 1998, productivity data were graphed and distributed monthly to social workers, documenting their number of service hours for the month and the average of all social workers in the agency. Results: Following the graphing intervention, the average monthly billed hours increased from a baseline of 31.22 hours to 40.28 hours per month, representing a 29% improvement in productivity. The majority of social workers participating in this study viewed graphical feedback as an acceptable intervention.