The ASAM Criteria©, Fourth Edition workflow tool in BestNotes supports providers in applying the ASAM Criteria©, Fourth Edition within assessments, level of care determinations, treatment planning, and transitions.


We strongly encourage all providers using this tool to reference and purchase the official ASAM Criteria©, Fourth Edition, available directly from the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). The official publication provides the in-depth rationale, research, case examples, and training necessary for comprehensive understanding and appropriate clinical decision-making.


With ASAM 4 in BestNotes, you can:

  • Evaluate ASAM Criteria©, Fourth Edition within assessments
  • Assign and track risk ratings
  • Identify dimensional drivers
  • Determine criteria-recommended levels of care
  • Conduct criteria driven continued stay and transition reviews
  • Include and identify dimensional drivers in treatment plans
  • Conduct criteria driven transition/discharge summaries
  • Track criteria findings history in the Episode tab


Video Walkthrough 


If you need additional assistance, please contact our support team at 208-543-6646 or team@bestnotes.com.


Alternatively, submit a support ticket at: https://help.bestnotes.com/support/tickets/new


Permissions required

System Administrators must give the ASAM Criteria©, Fourth Edition  permission to each user who needs to make a level of care criteria assessment. The cost is $2.50 per user per month to cover the licensing to access the ASAM Criteria©, Fourth Edition.

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Select Users
  3. Open the user profile
  4. Scroll to Permissions
  5. Under the Clinical subsection, enable ASAM Criteria©, Fourth Edition 
  6. Save

Once enabled, users will see the ASAM Criteria©, Fourth Edition  button within supported assessments.


Where ASAM Criteria© , Fourth Edition is Available

You can launch the ASAM Criteria©, Fourth Edition tool from:

  • *Pre-Screen / Intake Assessment (optional)
  • *Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessment/Biopsychosocial
  • *Psychiatric Assessment
  • *Master Treatment Plan
  • *Discharge/Transition Summary
  • *Utilization Review


If your account does not utilize our Clinical Profile we can assist you with implementing the ASAM Criteria©, Fourth Edition tools in your system.


Completing an initial assessment with the ASAM Criteria©, Fourth Edition


STEP 1: Open an assessment

You may begin with the *Pre-Screen (shorter initial placement form), *Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessment, or *Psychiatric Assessment


The *Pre-Screen/Intake Assessment is optional, but it is helpful for early level of care decisions.


While in the chosen assessment, click ASAM Criteria©, Fourth Edition. Review the informational disclaimer and click Continue.


STEP 2: Complete Dimensions 1-5

Each dimension contains subdimensions.


For each subdimension:

  1. Click Criteria
  2. Select the appropriate ASAM Criteria©, Fourth Edition criteria statement
  3. The system automatically displays a Risk Rating based on the selected criteria statement
  4. Indicate whether it is a Dimensional Driver
  5. Summarize the patient's current situation within each subdimension
  6. Record Relevant measures (if applicable)


STEP 3: Determine Level of Care

After completing Dimensions 1–5, you will:

  • Review a summary table of all findings
  • Select the criteria-recommended level of care (The recommended level of care should not be lower than the highest risk rating)


STEP 4: Complete Dimension 6 ( Person-Centered Considerations)


Document:

  • Patient willingness to attend recommended level of care
  • Barriers (if applicable)
  • Risks if placed at a different level
  • Preferences expressed


If the patient is not placed at the recommended level of care, justification is required.

Click Finish to complete the ASAM assessment.


Enrolling a patient in a program

After publishing the assessment:

  1. Update patient status tag (e.g., Inquiry → Current patient)
  2. Go to the Episode Tab
  3. Enroll the patient in the selected level of care *The level of care options in your account may need to be updated by BestNotes staff. If so, contact our support team.


ASAM History

The Episode tab includes an ASAM Criteria, 4th Edition© History that allows you to:

  • View/print criteria findings and track level of care changes over time 


Treatment planning with ASAM Criteria©, 4th Edition

Treatment plan problems should align with the identified Dimensional Drivers.


*Linked problem generation from Dimensional Drivers coming soon.


For immediate use, manually update the problem label to reference the Dimension and Subdimension
For example: "D1 S1 - Problem Title"

     Diagnosis-Based Problem

  1. Add or pull in a diagnosis
  2. Update problem label to include a reference to the Dimension and Subdimension
  3. Add goals, objectives, and interventions


Custom (Triple-Zero) Problem

  1. Add a problem from the Master Problem List
  2. Use the 000 code
  3. Update problem label to include a reference to the Dimension and Subdimension
  4. Include ASAM clinical justification
  5. Add goals, objectives, and interventions


Review Transition and Continued Service Criteria

During treatment plan reviews within the Master Treatment Plan, Utilization Review, and Transition/Discharge Summary.

You may also review or reassess the ASAM Criteria©, Fourth Edition within these documents as needed.


*Level of care transitions need to be supported by recording a Transition/Discharge summary. After publishing, navigate to the Episode Tab and update the program details accordingly to ensure chart accuracy and system reporting.


Available by permission from the ASAM Criteria, Treatment Criteria for Addictive, Substance-Related, and Co-occurring Conditions. Fourth Edition © 2023 American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).



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