Multiprofessional Caseload Review in the Community Mental Health Team: Improving Patient Safety and Supporting Safe Discharges to Primary Care

Abstract

Aims

To create greater capacity within the general adult psychiatry outpatient clinic to facilitate urgent medical review for patients when needed, and to reduce delays for those receiving ongoing routine care within existing resources by improving joint working processes within the multidisciplinary team. To support safe discharges to primary care and promote ongoing recovery by improving access to community resources and the voluntary sector.

Methods

Caseload review for all patients under the outpatient clinics within South Leicestershire community mental health team began in August 2022. A template was developed in consultation with clinical colleagues and approved by the Trust clinical governance process. This includes salient clinical variables such stability, risk and medication. A consultant psychiatrist and senior nurse spend 2-4 hours weekly reviewing each patient's electronic record chronologically from those waiting the longest for an appointment. Using the template, one of the following for the patient's next appointment is determined, based on patient need:

• • Nurse discharge clinic

• • Outpatient discharge clinic

• • Outpatient clinic for ongoing treatment

• • Transfer to another service (eg ADHD)

A pilot nurse discharge clinic was carried out offering face to face reviews for patients identified as clinically stable for discharge over 4 weeks, with regular senior nursing supervision and medical input as required.

Results

Between August 2022 to January 2023, 700 out of a total of 1717 caseload reviews have been completed. 39% of these are identified as suitable to be reviewed for discharge.

In the pilot nurse discharge clinic, 137 patients were offered appointments: 82 were discharged, 16 did not attend, and 39 subsequently needed an outpatient appointment. There have been no serious incidents, complaints or re-referrals.

The waiting time for an urgent outpatient appointment has reduced from six weeks to one week and for routine outpatient care from six months to four weeks.

No work related absence for staff, and qualitative feedback from the multidisciplinary team has been positive.

Conclusion

Reduction in high outpatient caseloads is achievable through robust multiprofessional caseload review, and patients can be safely discharged from the care of consultant psychiatrists by multidisciplinary team working. This creates greater capacity, flexibility and flow for those who need ongoing outpatient care to receive this is a timely manner, improving the safety and quality of patient care. This has also fostered a greater sense of cohesion for staff within the team.