TY - JOUR
T1 - Consultative intervention to improve outcomes of high utilizers in a public mental health system
AU - Badger, Terry
AU - Gelenberg, Alan J.
AU - Berren, Michael
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - PURPOSE. To examine the effectiveness of an academic consultation on outcomes among consumers in a public mental health system and to compare outcomes between high-cost/high-utilizer and midcost consumers. METHODS. Participants (N = 36) completed all questionnaires during three semistructured interviews. Using a repeated-measures experimental design, the outcomes of global functioning, quality of life, service use and need, costs, and consumer satisfaction were examined. FINDINGS. The hypothesis that consultation would change medication practices and reduce costs was supported. CONCLUSIONS. Consultation with a senior clinician helped change medication practices and reduced costs. Consultation may lead to recognition of a new diagnosis (medical, neurologic, or psychiatric) or suggestions for modifying a treatment regimen that could improve functioning and QOL. In a busy public mental health system, there is often little time for consultation and little thought to second opinions. For clients who cost the system the greatest amount, the small additional cost of a consultation is a good potential investment.
AB - PURPOSE. To examine the effectiveness of an academic consultation on outcomes among consumers in a public mental health system and to compare outcomes between high-cost/high-utilizer and midcost consumers. METHODS. Participants (N = 36) completed all questionnaires during three semistructured interviews. Using a repeated-measures experimental design, the outcomes of global functioning, quality of life, service use and need, costs, and consumer satisfaction were examined. FINDINGS. The hypothesis that consultation would change medication practices and reduce costs was supported. CONCLUSIONS. Consultation with a senior clinician helped change medication practices and reduced costs. Consultation may lead to recognition of a new diagnosis (medical, neurologic, or psychiatric) or suggestions for modifying a treatment regimen that could improve functioning and QOL. In a busy public mental health system, there is often little time for consultation and little thought to second opinions. For clients who cost the system the greatest amount, the small additional cost of a consultation is a good potential investment.
KW - Consultation
KW - Mental health systems
KW - Patient satisfaction
KW - Quality of life
KW - Service use and costs
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1744-6163.2004.00053.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1744-6163.2004.00053.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 15323413
AN - SCOPUS:4143057059
SN - 0031-5990
VL - 40
SP - 53-60+69
JO - Perspectives in Psychiatric Care
JF - Perspectives in Psychiatric Care
IS - 2
ER -