Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions: General What is PC-MIS?
How was PC-MIS developed?
Where was PC-MIS first tested?
Can PC-MIS be used nationwide?
What is IAPT?
Why do IAPT services need PC-MIS?
Who uses PC-MIS?
What does PC-MIS collect?

1. What is PC-MIS?
Patient Case Management Information System (PC-MIS) provides real-time information on patient outcomes, clinical supervision, psychological treatment regimes, clinical staff / patient contact activity levels and treatment plans. It is designed specifically for the management of high volume mental health case loads through stepped care.
Back to top

2. How was PC-MIS developed?
PC-MIS is the first evidence based patient administration system in the UK. It is a web based management system designed by the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York, one the UK’s leading universities. The Department of Health Sciences has an international reputation for combining world-class research with high quality innovation to have positive impact in healthcare regionally, nationally and internationally.
Back to top

3. Where was PC-MIS first tested?
The IAPT demonstration site in Doncaster aimed to improve access to psychological treatment for high-volumes of people with common mental health problems such as anxiety and depression in an efficient manner, without compromising the patient experience, Case workers were supervised by High Intensity workers, supported using PC-MIS through routine collection of outcome measures, showing a positive benefit to health and wellbeing for people receiving this service.
Back to top

4. Can PC-MIS be used nationwide?
Yes. In 2007 PC-MIS was chosen by the Department of Health to support the first 11 Pathfinder sites, geographically spread throughout England. These pilot services, through routine collection of outcome measures, supported the positive level of satisfaction for people receiving IAPT services.
Back to top

 5. What is IAPT?
The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme has one principal aim, to support Primary Care Trusts in implementing National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for people suffering from depression and anxiety disorders.
Back to top

6. Why do IAPT services need PC-MIS?
PC-MIS enables workers to manage high levels of individual patient pathways effectively through stepped care. PC-MIS is the first patient information system to be developed with automatic alerts, which prompt clinicians, supervisors and managers to review cases quickly and safely to overview clinical decision making.
Back to top

7. Who uses PC-MIS?
NHS organisations such as mental health services including low and high intensity workers and supervisors, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) therapists, counsellors and independent third sector organisations all use PC-MIS.
Back to top

8. What does PC-MIS collect?
  • The IAPT minimum data set (demographic data and clinical outcome assessment data)
  • IAPT Adult Service data set
  • IAPT Young Persons assessments (CAMHS)
  • Older Persons assessments
  • Employment Support Data
  • The number of patients referred
  • The severity of individual mental health problems
  • Numbers in treatment
  • The intensity balance of patients in treatment
  • The types of treatment interventions delivered, for example computerised Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (cCBT), counselling and guided self-help.
  • The numbers discharged by each health worker
    • Back to top