The Use of a Credit Card in a Token Economy

At the Adolescent Service of Boston State Hospital (Kris and Schiff, 1968), a credit card system has been used as the means of transaction in a token economy for the past three years. ¹ The medium has been “points,” where one point is worth approximately one penny. The credit card system has proven to be economical and adaptable for use in the clinical management of a diverse patient population. In addition, it insures that data are collected automatically at each points transaction. This makes the system particularly useful where treatment takes place in diverse settings, rather than on a single centralized ward, and where many staff members may not understand the importance of keeping accurate records. At Boston State Hospital this system has been used by over 100 staff members throughout the hospital with a minimum of training and supervision.