Perspectives on Coordinating Health Services for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness – A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Purpose Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) might require coordinated health services to meet their healthcare needs. The overall aim of this study was to describe the perspectives of professionals (registered nurses, medical doctors, social educators, and social workers) on care coordination and measures to ensure proper and coordinated follow-up of the healthcare needs of individuals with SMI. More specifically, we investigated which measures are taken by employees in municipal health and care services to prevent the deterioration of health conditions and which measures are taken in cases where deterioration occurs despite preventive efforts. Method The study comprised individual qualitative interviews with professionals employed in municipal health and care services in two Norwegian municipalities. The interview material was analyzed using systematic text condensation. Results Three categories and seven subcategories were created in the data analysis: 1) Maintain a stable and meaningful home life, including ensuring proper housing and access to services and assistance in receiving healthcare ; 2) Measures to prevent deterioration of the health condition, including close monitoring of symptoms , emergency psychiatric care plans and emergency room calls and visits ; and 3) Inpatient care to stabilize acute and severe symptoms, including municipal inpatient care , returning home after inpatient care and a need for shared responsibility for treatment and care . Conclusion Professionals employed in municipal health and care services coordinate health services to ensure proper and coordinated follow-up of the healthcare needs of individuals with SMI by ensuring housing services and access to the required healthcare. Measures taken when deterioration occurs include monitoring symptoms, use of emergency psychiatric care plans, emergency room contacts, or inpatient care.

Exploring key determinants of health among individuals with serious mental illness: Qualitative insights from a first episode psychosis cohort, 20 years postdiagnosis

“…These strategies can prevent or minimize the adverse impact of deterioration on individuals' health and well-being. (19).…”

Collective Competence as an Enable for Services Integration in Health and Social Care Services [Letter]

“… 2 This has been done by Yousef s Khader et al who found that it is necessary to have resources, equipment and supplies, documentation, staff training, and the provision of health care services to support future health services by using the method of direct observation of the hospital and interviews with staff, primary health care and hospitals in order to be able to assess and evaluate the availability of various services. 3 …”

“…2 This has been done by Yousef s Khader et al who found that it is necessary to have resources, equipment and supplies, documentation, staff training, and the provision of health care services to support future health services by using the method of direct observation of the hospital and interviews with staff, primary health care and hospitals in order to be able to assess and evaluate the availability of various services. 3 The study conducted by Therese Dwyer Løken et al proved that knowledge of individual life situations relates to individual service recipients and their lives with diverse and complex needs and challenges related to mental health, substance abuse, physical health, and the social life in which service recipients and family caregivers increase the importance of knowing the uniqueness of each person's situation, including the individual's history, desires, goals, abilities and resources. Professionals and managers agree on the importance of having such knowledge.…”