Examples of supporting evidence Documented clinical pathways for responding to risks identified through screening Training programs for workforce in person-centred approaches to comprehensive assessment Developing the comprehensive care plan Action 5.13 Clinicians use processes for shared decision making to develop and document a comprehensive and individualised plan that: Addresses the significance and complexity of the patient’s health issues and risks of harm Identifies agreed and actions for the patient’s treatment and care Identifies any support people a patient wants involved in communications and decision making about their care Commences discharge planning at the beginning of the episode of care Includes a plan for referral to follow-up services, if appropriate and where available Is consistent with best practice and evidence How does this action apply to people with mental health issues? People maintain their mental health in a range of ways. This can include minimising exposure to stress, ensuring regular sleep and exercise, and taking medication. All of these strategies are disrupted by admission to hospital for treatment for physical health, potentially leading to deterioration in the person’s mental state. The stress of physical illness alone can precipitate changes in a person’s mental health. Using shared decision making to collaborate on the development of a comprehensive care plan can mitigate the risk of poor mental or physical health outcomes for people. Ensure that the plan is comprehensive Health care has been characterised as operating in siloes; if a person is admitted for cardiac symptoms, care can be focused simply on treating those symptoms, with other aspects of the person’s health ignored, or presumed to be someone else’s responsibility. At times, this responsibility is left with the person themselves, or their family or carers, without their capacity to take this responsibility being determined. is increasing evidence of the links between physical and mental illness, including correlations between depression and cardiac problems, and anxiety and chronic pain. For example, for people with eating disorders, physical and mental health are inseparable, and treatment must reflect this. Successful implementation of this strategy will be supported by, or rely on, the following actions:
Examples of supporting evidence Documented clinical pathways for responding to risks identified through screening Training programs for workforce in person-centred approaches to comprehensive assessment Developing the comprehensive care plan Action 5.13 Clinicians use processes for shared decision making to develop and document a comprehensive and individualised plan that: Addresses the significance and complexity of the patient’s health issues and risks of harm Identifies agreed and actions for the patient’s treatment and care Identifies any support people a patient wants involved in communications and decision making about their care Commences discharge planning at the beginning of the episode of care Includes a plan for referral to follow-up services, if appropriate and where available Is consistent with best practice and evidence How does this action apply to people with mental health issues? People maintain their mental health in a range of ways. This can include minimising exposure to stress, ensuring regular sleep and exercise, and taking medication. All of these strategies are disrupted by admission to hospital for treatment for physical health, potentially leading to deterioration in the person’s mental state. The stress of physical illness alone can precipitate changes in a person’s mental health. Using shared decision making to collaborate on the development of a comprehensive care plan can mitigate the risk of poor mental or physical health outcomes for people. Ensure that the plan is comprehensive Health care has been characterised as operating in siloes; if a person is admitted for cardiac symptoms, care can be focused simply on treating those symptoms, with other aspects of the person’s health ignored, or presumed to be someone else’s responsibility. At times, this responsibility is left with the person themselves, or their family or carers, without their capacity to take this responsibility being determined. is increasing evidence of the links between physical and mental illness, including correlations between depression and cardiac problems, and anxiety and chronic pain. For example, for people with eating disorders, physical and mental health are inseparable, and treatment must reflect this. Successful implementation of this strategy will be supported by, or rely on, the following actions:
DRAFT-NSQHS-Standards-user-guide-for-health-services-providing-care-for-people-with-mental-health-issues.docx