ABSTRACT
This chapter describes implementation assessments of a range of programs, including acute admission and rehabilitation programs, substance abuse programs, therapeutic community programs, and an intentional social systems treatment model. Several studies have focused on the implementation of therapeutic community (TC) programs. The TC program was higher on involvement, autonomy, practical orientation, and the open expression of anger; the medically oriented program was better organized. The team that saw the hospital environment as least supportive, clear, and, self-directed was itself the lowest on cohesion, organization, independence, and task-orientation. These findings imply that variations in a team's niche in the overall hospital setting may affect the team's functioning. The Ward Atmosphere Scale provided a systematic description of the treatment environment, a description that closely corresponded to the different emphases in the programs. By comparing patient and staff groups with each other and over time, similarities and differences between programs and groups were identified.
