POLARIS-ROMS (RECOVERY OUTCOME MANAGEMENT SYSTEM)
Empowering Adults with Chronic Mental Health Issues

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THE STORY BEHIND THE PRODUCT
Adults living with a mental illness struggle to grapple with its effects on their daily lives. They may be unable to work or to complete even the simplest of tasks. The current system of care for this population has often failed to incorporate their voices, and they are left without receiving the services they need. They may also consequently feel that their experiences of living with a mental illness are misunderstood, and that they are not respected.

While collaborating with providers who work with the mentally ill in community settings, the Polaris team began to see a need for a product that would facilitate the participation of all those involved in the care of a consumer, including the consumer, when devising and monitoring the course of treatment.

The solution? Create a system that focuses on consumer strengths and resiliency, while benchmarking progress in symptomology. Polaris-ROMS was the result. With this complex population, we knew we would need to include both consumers and providers in the design process—from the layout of reports to the incorporation of data into treatment plans.

Through consumer input we came to understand that it was important to recognize not just their clinical goals but their life goals as well. Living with a mental illness does not have to have a crippling effect on all of the facets of a consumer’s life. To meet that demand, we systematically incorporated “building blocks” associated with employability and independence. Clients using the Polaris-ROMS have access to data they can use to assist them in attaining their goals, including building emotional, resiliency and relational skills, and a viable support system. As the foundation for monitoring symptoms and functioning progressed, National Institutes of Health funded and reviewed scales measuring change in Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Substance Abuse and Psychosis were incorporated into Polaris-ROMS.

POLARIS-ROMS IN BRIEF

✔ Improve interagency communication and case coordination

✔ Improve clinical and organizational capacity for case formulation and treatment plan writing

✔ Better plan for the needs of the consumers you treat, as well as monitor their progress

✔ See how highlighting strengths can engage clients into treatment more quickly

✔ Benchmark progress to similar clients in other programs

✔ Assesses mental health needs often co-morbid with severe mental illness: Psychosis, Global Behavioral Health, Depression, Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, Living Skills, Interpersonal Competence

✔ Assesses consumer co-morbid substance abuse: Addiction Severity Index: Alcohol and Drugs

✔ Assesses compensating adult strengths: Resiliency, Supports, Goal Directiveness, Emotional/Relational Skills

✔ Contains indicators for trauma and PTSD

✔ Assesses readiness to change, self-harm, and the likelihood of immediate harm

Learn more about the product and its benefits.

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