Implementation and impact of an extended-hours service in mental health care: lessons learned.

Conclusions A comprehensive needs analysis, enabling full description of target populations and their needs, should underpin establishment of any service. Such understanding is needed to ensure resources are appropriate. Importantly, because mental health clinicians are not interchangeable, matching philosophy of care and clinical skills to identified need is critical to quality and efficiency. What is known about the topic? Public mental health services are obliged to deliver services which meet the needs of the service community in a timely manner. This requires enabling access to care outside routine business hours. However little is known about demand for after-hours service and literature provides little guidance to support efficient establishment of services. What does this paper add? This mixed-methods investigation of a model of extended-hours service delivery provides insights to inform development of similar services. In addition to providing detailed information about provision of services in extended hours, we evidence the specialisation of mental health clinicians who work with particular populations typically accessing care after-hours. Risk assessment and crisis management are not 'one size fits all' and continuity and quality of care are enhanced when philosophy of care fits consumer presentations. What are the implications for practitioners? Attention must be given to the often implicit assumptions underpinning establishment of any service. Critical to succes...
Source: Australian Health Review - Category: Hospital Management Authors: Tags: Aust Health Rev Source Type: research