Changes to the Catalyst Application (May 2020)
DATIS has added a field to the Program Information screen in Catalyst to capture services offered virtually.
What prompted this change?
In response to COVID-19, community mental health and addiction agencies have had to make service delivery changes. With social distancing measures in place, virtual care has become a necessary method of service delivery for many agencies.
What is the change and what does it look like?
DATIS has added a Virtual Care Status section to the Program Information screen, directly below the Program Registration section. The section includes the following question “Due to COVID-19, are services for this program being provided to client virtually?” Users will be able to choose an answer from the corresponding drop down menu.
How does this change affect data entry?
This new data element is not mandatory for any open and new program registrations. **Please note: this field was mandatory between May 2020 - September 29th, 2022. You can read more about these changes here: Changes to the Catalyst Application V1.22.2
Users can choose from the following options in the drop-down menu:
- Yes – choose Yes if the client will be receiving any virtual program services
- For example, a client who previously attended appointments in person is now attending via video-conferencing due to physical distancing.
- No – choose No if the client will not be receiving any virtual program services
- For example, there is a lack of technology to facilitate services virtually; the client has declined virtual services; or the format of service delivery has not changed in light of the pandemic (ex. client continues in-person appointments).
- N/A – choose N/A if virtual program services do not apply to the situation and typically would not be offered virtually
- For example, program services cannot be carried out virtually; or virtual services are not applicable in a particular situation.
**Per the Ministry of Health’s Virtual Community Mental Health and Addiction Services Interim Guidance to Community Mental Health Agencies of March 31, virtual care includes:
- Phone calls
- Video conferencing
- Secure messaging (chat, email, texting)
