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Emergency psychiatric assessments: effects of accessing clinical records on outcome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2007

S H Roberts ,
A A Woodall ,
E Bedson  and
D B Menkes
S H Roberts*
Affiliation:
North Wales Section of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Medical and Social Care Research (IMSCaR), University of Wales Bangor
A A Woodall
Affiliation:
Telford and Wrekin Primary Care Trust
E Bedson
Affiliation:
All Wales Alliance for Research and Development (AWARD), Institute of Medical and Social Care Research (IMSCaR), University of Wales Bangor
D B Menkes
Affiliation:
North Wales Section of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Medical and Social Care Research (IMSCaR), University of Wales Bangor
*
Correspondence to: Dr S.H. Roberts, North Wales Section of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Medical and Social Care Research (IMSCaR), WMI Academic Unit, Wrexham Technology Park, Wrexham LL13 7YP. Tel: 019 7872 7406; E-mail: seren.roberts@new-tr.wales. nhs.uk
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Abstract

Aims and Methods: A retrospective cohort was identified to examine the impact of information availability on outcome of emergency psychiatric assessment.

Results: Of 144 assessments undertaken during a 2-month period, 110 (76%) involved patients already known to regional psychiatric services, with records held on-site and remote from acute services at the District General Hospital site. 18 (16%) on-site clinical records were accessed during emergency assessments, only 3 (3%) of which were accessed during out-of-hours. No off-site records were accessed. Admission rates were low, with only 22 (15%) of assessments leading to admission and 63 (44%) resulting in onward referral to other services. Outcome for in- and out-of-hours assessments did not differ.

Conclusion: Our data failed to show a significant effect of accessing clinical records on admission rate.

Keywords

Emergency psychiatryadmission ratesclinical informationinformation access
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Psychiatric Intensive Care , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , December 2006 , pp. 97 - 102
Copyright
Copyright © NAPICU 2007

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