LOCUS

Healthcare reforms in recent years have emphasized the need for objective and uniform measurements for level of care decision-making throughout the health care system.

In 1996 the AACP released the Level of Care Utilization Services Tool, or LOCUS, an assessment tool that helps clinicians, insurers, and those in need of behavioral health services, to make decisions about level of care in a way that is consistent, fair, and effective.

LOCUS has multiple potential uses

At the client level

To assess immediate service needs (e.g., for clients in crisis) in a way that’s transparent, clear, consistent and easy to understand.

To create a common language for discussing level of care needs using a patient focused approach

To provide valid, value driven guidance for medical necessity determinations

To inform the treatment planning processes

To provide a framework for a comprehensive system of clinical management and documentation

At the systems level

To plan system level resource needs for complex populations over time and help identify deficits in the service array.

To assist in the development of bundled payments or case rates for episodes of care for specific clinical conditions.

To facilitate communication between systems of care regarding service intensity needs.

To enhance equity and fairness in service planning decisions by reducing the variability and bias inherent in idiosyncratic decision making

LOCUS Scoring Software

Conduct electronic LOCUS scoring that is embedded into your workflows. By using:

Vendor based Integrations: Use LOCUS within your EHR platform. Please be sure to verify if your EHR Vendor is on our list of Certified Partners.

Customer/Provider based Integrations: An option for any customer who's EHR or equivalent software package provides the native ability through its customization tools to build the LOCUS assessment. In these cases our software team will work directly with your organization to assist you with the reproduction and certification of your deployment.

Cloud Solution: Access LOCUS scoring securely hosted through our software partner

LOCUS Training & Consultation

AACP offers a range of training resources, including LOCUS Certification Training designed for new users of the tool, and LOCUS Refresher and Supplementary Training designed to enhance existing LOCUS scoring knowledge.

Our training can be conveniently accessed via our online learning management system. It is self paced and can be stopped and resumed at any point to suit learner’s schedules.

  • Directly register for and purchase access to any of the AACP’s LOCUS training by going to our Learning Management System

  • Are you an organization interested in an agency-level training agreement?

    Entering into a training services agreement with AACP, provides you with seamless, ongoing access to LOCUS training for your existing and new employees. You will be assigned a promo code so that employees won’t have to individually pay to access training

    Please contact us at bulktraining@communitypsychiatry.org to find out more

  • If your organization has an agency-level LOCUS training agreement, please contact your training administrator to be provided with access instructions and a promo code. Do not use the link to individually purchase access to the course.

  • Organizations interested in receiving targeted consultation regarding LOCUS implementation at a system’s level, please contact Stephanie.Smit-Dillard@communitypsychiatry.org

    Are you an individual who wants to access some clinically focused LOCUS Consultation? Attend one of our free, virtual, drop-in consultation sessions.

    SCHEDULE NOW!

Helpful Resources