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About the course
The ASAM e-Course is a comprehensive, evidence-based adult learning solution that leverages the advantages of web-based training while incorporating the content and instructional methods of a highly successful onsite curriculum. The course is designed to help participants make more informed and accurate level-of-care decisions and write clear, concise clinical justifications to support those decisions.
The course addresses the Continuum of Care, the Criteria, Dimension Risk Ratings, Assessment Considerations, and Sub-Dimensions for each of ASAM’s Six Dimensions. Participants learn how to apply these considerations and develop well-supported clinical justifications for both Dimension Risk Ratings and Level of Care Recommendations.
A significant portion of the course is devoted to developing a deep understanding of Assessment Considerations and identifying the specific clinical information—often collected through tools such as the Addiction Severity Index (ASI)—that informs and supports dimension risk ratings.
The e-course is more comprehensive than traditional one- or two-day workshops and provides substantially more content, detail, and applied exercises. It includes:
- Pre- and post-course learning measures
- Downloadable support materials
- Structured practice opportunities
Upon successful completion of the post-course learning measure, participants receive written performance feedback from Dr. Coyne, along with an opportunity to review and discuss that feedback directly with him.
The e-Course on the ASAM Criteria is standardized, evidence-based, accessible, and cost-effective. Its structure allows learners to create a self-directed, self-paced experience tailored to their individual learning style and professional needs—something traditional onsite workshops cannot fully provide.
Individual subscriptions are available for three-month periods; however, participants are generally expected to complete the course within the first 30 days to maximize learning and application.
Blended learning options are also available:
- The e-Course on the ASAM Criteria combined with video teleconferencing sessions
- The e-Course on the ASAM Criteria combined with onsite workshops
We welcome the opportunity to discuss your organization’s learning needs and design a customized learning solution.
To date, the e-Courses on the ASI and ASAM Criteria have been used by individuals and organizations across the United States, as well as in three countries. Participating organizations include mental health and substance use treatment providers, research organizations, drug courts, probation and parole departments, and Single State Behavioral Health Agencies.
The e-Courses and workshops are designed and delivered by Thomas H. Coyne, Ed.D., LCSW, a nationally recognized adult educator who provides evidence-based learning solutions focused on improving the assessment and treatment of individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. He is widely regarded as one of the most experienced and effective trainers in the country in the correct administration and clinical application of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and the ASAM Criteria.
Goals and Objectives
Research on evidence-based practices for making Level of Care (LOC) recommendations—also referred to as patient placement decisions and treatment matching, demonstrates that mismatching clients to treatment, whether through under-treatment or over-treatment, reduces successful engagement in care (Magura et al., 2002) and leads to poorer treatment outcomes (Magura et al., 2002; McKay et al., 2000).
For this reason, it is imperative that assessors and case managers develop the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed, accurate level of care recommendations and to write clear, concise, and clinically defensible justifications to support those decisions.
Goal
To develop and/or enhance the knowledge and skills required to make informed and accurate level of care recommendations, and to write clear, concise clinical justifications for those decisions, using the ASAM Criteria.
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
- Identify and explain the rationale and benefits of using the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria.
- Identify and explain the key components of the ASAM Criteria.
- Identify and describe the various levels of care used in the treatment of substance use disorders.
- Identify the general characteristics that differentiate levels of care along the continuum of care.
- Identify and differentiate ASAM’s Six Dimensions of assessment.
- Identify clinical information and symptoms that correspond to each dimension’s assessment considerations and/or sub dimensions.
- Analyze and interpret clinical information necessary to determine risk ratings for the six dimensions.
- Understand how to synthesize dimension risk ratings to formulate a level of care recommendation.
- Understand how to write clear and clinically defensible justifications for dimension risk ratings and level of care recommendations.
- Identify three common errors frequently made when writing clinical justifications.
Organizational Outcomes
Organizations whose staff successfully complete this workshop, and effectively transfer the acquired knowledge and skills to the workplace, should see measurable improvements in the accuracy of level of care recommendations and the quality of clinical justifications.
Improved treatment matching may also lead to increased rates of treatment engagement, and retention, as well as improved overall client outcomes.
Career and Professional Relevance
The ability to make informed clinical decisions using the ASAM Criteria, and to document those decisions with clear, concise, and clinically defensible justifications, is a highly valuable and marketable professional skill.
Approximately 30 states utilize the ASAM Criteria to varying degrees (Mee-Lee, 2005), and as many as 40 states employ utilization review mechanisms that require matching clients to appropriate levels of care using standardized criteria (Gregoire, 2000). Additionally, many treatment providers seek approval as substance use disorder service providers for insurance carriers, most of which require clinicians to demonstrate accurate decision-making and defensible documentation practices.
Mastery of the ASAM Criteria strengthens both clinical competence and professional credibility.
Enrollment options
The ASAM e-Course is a comprehensive, evidence-based adult learning solution that leverages the advantages of web-based training while incorporating the content and instructional methods of a highly successful onsite curriculum. The course is designed to help participants make more informed and accurate level-of-care decisions and write clear, concise clinical justifications to support those decisions.
The course addresses the Continuum of Care, the Criteria, Dimension Risk Ratings, Assessment Considerations, and Sub-Dimensions for each of ASAM’s Six Dimensions. Participants learn how to apply these considerations and develop well-supported clinical justifications for both Dimension Risk Ratings and Level of Care Recommendations.
A significant portion of the course is devoted to developing a deep understanding of Assessment Considerations and identifying the specific clinical information—often collected through tools such as the Addiction Severity Index (ASI)—that informs and supports dimension risk ratings.
The e-course is more comprehensive than traditional one- or two-day workshops and provides substantially more content, detail, and applied exercises. It includes:
- Pre- and post-course learning measures
- Downloadable support materials
- Structured practice opportunities
Upon successful completion of the post-course learning measure, participants receive written performance feedback from Dr. Coyne, along with an opportunity to review and discuss that feedback directly with him.
The e-Course on the ASAM Criteria is standardized, evidence-based, accessible, and cost-effective. Its structure allows learners to create a self-directed, self-paced experience tailored to their individual learning style and professional needs—something traditional onsite workshops cannot fully provide.
Individual subscriptions are available for three-month periods; however, participants are generally expected to complete the course within the first 30 days to maximize learning and application.
Blended learning options are also available:
- The e-Course on the ASAM Criteria combined with video teleconferencing sessions
- The e-Course on the ASAM Criteria combined with onsite workshops
We welcome the opportunity to discuss your organization’s learning needs and design a customized learning solution.
To date, the e-Courses on the ASI and ASAM Criteria have been used by individuals and organizations across the United States, as well as in three countries. Participating organizations include mental health and substance use treatment providers, research organizations, drug courts, probation and parole departments, and Single State Behavioral Health Agencies.
The e-Courses and workshops are designed and delivered by Thomas H. Coyne, Ed.D., LCSW, a nationally recognized adult educator who provides evidence-based learning solutions focused on improving the assessment and treatment of individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. He is widely regarded as one of the most experienced and effective trainers in the country in the correct administration and clinical application of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and the ASAM Criteria.
- Teacher: Jaswinder Singh