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Shifting an assessment tool’s implementation vision over time to stop perpetuating illusions of impact

I was reading Standardized Tools: An Exploration of Implementation Barriers and Enablers, a guidance on implementation in organizations https://www.eenetconnect.ca/to…arriers-and-enablers and for sure found a lot of wisdom on the approach to implementation.  The description of the process in the first vignette rings so true to applying to everyday practice, so thanks for the inspiration.

Reading the implementation guidance document stirred me on the realization as a front line worker for more than a decade working with the OCAN, that this super complex and original vision has evolved and changed in its key purpose from versions 1,2, to 3. The premise and driver of the Ontario Common Assessment of Need (OCAN) was that “client’s don’t have to repeat their stories,” to have continuity of care beyond one organization.

OCAN 2

ocan 2

OCAN 3

ocan 3

ocan vision

(image of system flow “consumer at the centre of care”… “easy movement between community mental health services,”  from powerpoint on Overview https://iar.thinkingcap.com/OCAN_tool )

That promise has been removed and that is a credit to the implementers and system planners for being honest and making it more relevant to everyday practice.  It just sticks with the original promises of being relevant to communicating client and worker perspective on recovery planning (with the client’s own words) as well as for the organization’s outcome and performance measurement. But that’s it.  We’ve stopped perpetuating an illusion of the OCAN being integrated into everyday care in the broader health and social care system.

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  • ocan 2
  • ocan 3
  • ocan vision
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