Tag: SASSI Online

SASSI Online Tips and Tricks: Volume 6 | Inviting Additional Counselors

SASSI Online is our web-based platform that supports the digital administration of the Adult SASSI-4, Adolescent SASSI-A3, and Spanish SASSI. It provides a report with interpretive paragraphs outlining the decision rules and results from client responses.

In this edition of SASSI Online Tips and Tricks we review the steps to add multiples counselors to a SASSI Online account, manage their invitation, and how to manage their access.

Only the Primary Clinical Contact (PCC) for an organization can invite other counselors to the account, by clicking the “My Account” tab, then clicking the “Invite Counselor to Register” button, and then the “Invite New Counselor” button. An email with a SASSI Online link will be sent to the counselor which invites them to register. When sending an invitation, keep in mind that Invitations can be filtered by spam/junk protections. If the invitation is not in the counselor’s junk or spam folder the link is available on the same screen you clicked “Invite New Counselor.” Locate the affected counselor in the invitation history list.  Click the “Resend” button, a window will show the counselor’s unique registration link. You can copy this link and send it directly to the counselor for registration.

Since the PCC is required to be qualified, the invited counselor is administering under their supervision. However, they will still be prompted to complete a qualification form during registration.

Additional counselors added to the account cannot see the reports of other counselors or those of the PCC.  However, the PCC does have access to all counselor’s reports through their dashboard on the Admin tab. Sharing of reports among counselors can be done by printing, or saving and sending.  It is also acceptable to upload the client’s PDF results to an organization’s electronic health records system.

If an added counselor or counselors are no longer with your organization, they can be deactivated.  Deactivation removes their ability to login to the account but retains their client records.  To deactivate a counselor, email the request to sassi@sassi.com.

If you are not currently using SASSI Online and would like to experience the features of the digital platform, create an account at www.sassionline.com.  If you already have an account, let us know if you have any suggestions for our next edition of SASSI Online Tips and Tricks.  As a bonus for reading this blog post to the end, reach out to us at blog@sassi.com, with the code phrase: Adding Counselors, to request two free SASSI Online administrations!

SASSI Online Tips and Tricks: Volume 5 | Account Dashboard Overview

SASSI Online is our web-based platform that supports the digital administration of the Adult SASSI-4, Adolescent SASSI-A3, and Spanish SASSI. It provides a report with interpretive paragraphs outlining the decision rules and results from client responses. In this edition of SASSI Online Tips and Tricks we review the Dashboard Tabs, their functions and what the different Roles have access to.

All SASSI Online users have a Dashboard. When logged in to their account, they will see the text in the top right corner, text that reads: “Account Dashboard for [name on account]”
Below is a description of each tab:

News – This space is used to provide updates from SASSI regarding research projects, questionnaire updates, and any other information specific to SASSI customers. Including these blog posts!

My Clients – This space is used to administer questionnaires, redeliver questionnaires, view reports, view completed questionnaires, and access the support materials page; this is where most of the work happens.

Admin Tab – This tab is only available to the Primary Clinical Contact (PCC). Here they can view client reports that counselors on their account have administered. The counselors cannot see the PCC’s clients, or those that belong to other counselors on their account.

Purchasing & Distribution – This tab is available to the Purchaser only. This space is used to purchase more questionnaires and manage distribution groups. Distribution groups are self-managing but can be customized to accommodate multiple counselors/users on an account who do not share a budget. The Purchaser can create Distribution Groups to add specific quantities of available SASSI questionnaires and add only the counselors/users that should have access to them.

My Account – This workspace will provide information about your account. If you are not the PCC and/or Purchaser, information about who is, is made available here. If you are the PCC, the list of registered counselors is found on this tab. All users can change their password and update account information and access their Customer ID. The PCC can also invite Counselors and Intake Staff to register.

If you are not currently using SASSI Online and would like to experience the features of the digital platform, create an account at www.sassionline.com. If you already have an account, let us know if you have any suggestions for our next edition of SASSI Online Tips and Tricks. As a bonus for reading this blog post to the end, reach out to us at blog@sassi.com, with the code phrase: Account Dashboard, to request two free SASSI Online administrations!

SASSI Online Tips & Tricks Volume 3 | SASSI to Go

In this edition of SASSI Online Tips and Tricks we take an in-depth look at our SASSI to Go delivery option! SASSI to Go is an application designed to be used offline for administration of SASSI questionnaires.

SASSI to Go is downloaded to a laptop or thumb drive, then the questionnaires are administered to clients with or without an Internet connection.

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SASSI Online Tips and Tricks: Volume 2 | Delivery Options

In this edition of SASSI Online Tips and Tricks we highlight setting up a questionnaire and the delivery options. When administering a questionnaire, you have six options. This volume will cover the first five in depth. The last one, SASSI to Go, will get its own volume, so watch for that!

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SASSI Online Tips and Tricks: Volume 1 | Support Materials

In this edition of SASSI Online Tips and Tricks we highlight the documents located under the Support Materials page.  Access the Support Materials through the Account Dashboard’s, My Clients tab. The Support Materials button is to the right of the Administer button. There are four quadrants on the Support Materials page, the top left is for Adult SASSI-4 documents, the top right contains the Adolescent SASSI-A3 materials, and the bottom left is for the Spanish SASSI. The bottom right section provides general information.

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Notes from the Clinical Director: Clinical Interpretations

One of the trickier aspects of incorporating the SASSI results in a substance use assessment is extracting the clinical interpretation of what elevated scores mean and the relationship between the scales. If you have taken SASSI training, especially the Clinical Interpretation session, you were introduced to ‘Profile Configurations.’ This section gets more in-depth into interpreting the scales and clinically drawing on information that can better inform how to work with your client as well as consideration of treatment modalities.

Starting with the Face Valid Alcohol and Other Drug Scales versus Subtle Scales, which when one of those is elevated can make a big difference on how you approach your client with the results. A high probability result based on only Face Valid scales can indicate good treatment readiness, life-style issues (that is, how they are functioning at work, school, home, etc. and been acknowledged by the client), with behavioral consequences being greater than psychological addiction. The client can readily tell you how their life has become unmanageable. With this client, group therapy and/or support groups could be considered.

A high probability result based only on Subtle Scales is going to feel more like a brick wall. The client exhibits less awareness and may not be able to, or doesn’t want to acknowledge a problem. This could be based on having experienced only a few negative consequences so they do not feel the impact of their addiction. They could also come across as defensive. Finally, they could be ‘sincerely deluded’ and at this point, unable to connect the dots for themselves. This client will need a lot of support to become aware that their use of substances is having an impact on their life functioning. Individual therapy may be the initial therapeutic intervention working towards other modalities as needed.

If you have attended Session II of SASSI Training, you received an outline of scale interpretation. But we would like to make sure all SASSI users have access to this valuable resource. You can download a copy by clicking the following link: “SASSI Scales in Interpretation & Feedback.”

Hope this information is instructive and assists you in your practice. And remember, as usual, we are here to help, so give the clinical line a call at 888-297-2774 or 800-726-0526, press 2.

SUD Screening, Telehealth, and the Coronavirus Pandemic

Due to the continuing outbreak of COVID-19 cases throughout the world, infectious disease experts have recommended reducing face-to-face contact and social distancing as much as possible to avoid spreading the virus. Many counseling and treatment providers are now looking to boost their adoption of virtual communication (telehealth) as a tool during this time. Congress also recently passed legislation allowing professionals to bill Medicare for patient care delivered by telehealth during the current coronavirus public health emergency (congress.gov).

Because early intervention saves lives, it is vital that screening individuals for SUD not get delayed during this pandemic and that access to treatment be available. If you are not already aware, the adult, adolescent, and Spanish SASSI screening tools can be administered to a client remotely via SASSI Online. Choose the “Email direct link to client” option when assigning a questionnaire administration, and your client can complete it at their location via the internet.

If you are not currently a SASSI Online user and would like to try it risk-free, please contact our customer service team at 800.726.0526 or sassi@sassi.com.

Thank you for all the work you do!