LOCUS
Also written as: LOCUS — Level of Care Utilization System
Level of Care Utilization System - a standardized tool for determining appropriate placement in mental health services.
Full Definition
The Level of Care Utilization System (LOCUS) is a clinical assessment instrument developed by the American Association for Community Psychiatry to guide placement decisions across the continuum of mental health services. LOCUS evaluates six dimensions: risk of harm, functional status, medical/psychiatric co-morbidity, recovery environment, treatment engagement, and recovery history. The tool helps clinicians determine whether a client requires inpatient, residential, intensive outpatient, or routine outpatient care based on objective criteria.
Usage
Usage note: CALOCUS is the child/adolescent version.
In Context
- "The LOCUS assessment indicated that the client required intensive outpatient services." — Clinical assessment report
- "Insurance authorization was based on the LOCUS score of 18." — Utilization review