Dissertation
Improving Post-Discharge Care for Community Mental Health Crisis Services Patients
University of Iowa
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), University of Iowa
Spring 2025
Abstract
Background Community mental health access centers provide lifesaving care to individuals in mental health crisis and improve the broader healthcare system's function (Schwartz et al., 2025). To optimize care, access centers must be flexible yet consistent in their follow-up with patients after crisis stabilization to gather feedback and coordinate subsequent care (Pinho et al., 2021).PurposeThis quality-improvement project aimed to improve an access center s patient feedback and follow-up processes. The project's formal goals were to increase rates of successful patient contact after discharge and to enhance staff s confidence and knowledge in this aspect of their role. Informal goals included improving patient satisfaction, increasing engagement in outpatient care, and decreasing rates of re-admission or hospitalization.MethodsThe Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model was utilized to implement the project. Changes were made to existing discharge surveys, follow-up templates, and telephone prompts, as well as the workflows surrounding them. These changes were made to simplify and standardize practices, emphasize proactive engagement with discharged patients, and generate information that is useful in improving future care. Staff were educated on the changes and the importance of these processes.FindingsRates of patient contact after discharge improved from 28.6% (3-month average pre-implementation) to 43.8% (3-month average post-implementation). This did not meet the project s goal of 80% contact, but did signify a meaningful change. Staff confidence and knowledge goals were met, measured through anonymous Likert surveys before and after process education. DiscussionThe observed improvements signify the success of these process changes. The PDSA model allows for continual adaptation in this rapidly changing environment, as the access center continues to evolve within the community. Future directions, such as diversification of follow-up modalities to improve accessibility, were identified through the project.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Improving Post-Discharge Care for Community Mental Health Crisis Services Patients
- Creators
- Katherine Folkerts - University of Iowa
- Contributors
- Larry Newman (Chair) - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Project Type
- Poster
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), University of Iowa
- Date degree season
- Spring 2025
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 1 page
- Copyright
- Copyright 2025 Katherine Folkerts
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Nursing; Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
- Record Identifier
- 9984841528202771
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