Scope: A new service supporting family doctors dealing with psychiatric patients in the community: Current utilization and quality improvement implementation protocol in the covid era

Abstract

Introduction

Seamless Care-Optimizing Patients Experience-Mental Health (SCOPE-MH) is a hub-based integrative case management and psychiatric care program supporting family physicians (FPs). SCOPE-MH provides patient resource navigation, social support, counselling, psychiatric consults, and short-term follow-up. Due to COVID-19, SCOPE-MH pivoted to serve patients completely online.

Objectives

To assess current utilization and evaluate patients’ and FPs’ experiences using SCOPE-MH as an online service before and during COVID-19.

Methods

This evaluation was developed under the RE-AIM framework (Reach, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance). Two surveys, one for Patient Reported Experience Measures (PREMS), and one seeking FPs perspective on the service, will complement the evaluation.

Results

Past data showed that 66.4% of referrals to SCOPE-MH were women (ages 14-97), and 33.6% were men (ages 14-91). The most common diagnoses were anxiety and depression, followed by adjustment reaction and PTSD. 72% of referred patients had more than one psychiatric diagnosis. 35.4% of the referrals were resource navigation and brief coordination of care. 39.2% required long term involvement. The main recommendations provided were counselling resources in the community and referral to local community mental health teams. Data on patient and FP experiences using SCOPE-MH, and perspectives on unique needs for psychiatric care in COVID-19, is still being collected. Surveys will be sent within 6 months.

Conclusions

SCOPE-MH is an effective model to support FP’s addressing patients’ psychiatric needs. The information obtained from the evaluation will be used to modify the online service to address unmet needs during COVID-19 and optimize current resources to serve more patients.