scholarly journals Audit of disposal of clinically confidential information

2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (9) ◽  
pp. 324-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craige Dietrich ◽  
Zahir Khan ◽  
James Warner
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Sensitive Information ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Confidential Information ◽  
Safe Disposal ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Mental Health Unit

Aims and MethodWe conducted a 3-cycle audit of disposal of clinically sensitive information in a mental health unit, in order to identify and reduce potential breaches in patients' confidentiality. Material from waste bins in administrative areas of a mental health unit was examined every evening during each period of the audit.ResultsThe first search, conducted over a 3-week period, yielded 11 documents containing highly-sensitive information about patients. After feedback to staff and improvement of shredding facilities, no sensitive information was found during the follow-up 3-week survey, 3 months later. However, a third survey 2 years later found 24 highly-sensitive items after one week, despite shredding facilities being maintained.Clinical ImplicationsChanges in behaviour identified in this audit appear to be due to education rather than improved facilities. All staff involved in patient care need to maintain awareness of the need for safe disposal of confidential material.

scholarly journals Improving prescription quality in an in-patient mental health unit: three cycles of clinical audit

2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 293-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priti Ved ◽  
Tim Coupe
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
Clinical Audit ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Patient Age ◽  
Patient Âgé ◽  
Mental Health Unit

Aims and MethodWe undertook three cycles of clinical audit of prescription charts to improve the quality of the prescriptions written in an in-patient unit. Pharmacy and medical staff reviewed a total of 1466 prescriptions on 242 prescription charts against local guidelines and provided feedback to medical staff. The pharmacist also regularly reviewed prescription charts on the wards between audits.ResultsAfter three cycles of audit, 99.5% of prescriptions written were legible. The recording of drug allergies, section 58 status and patient age remained poor.Clinical ImplicationsA combination of clinical audit and continual pharmacist review of prescription charts can improve the quality of prescriptions written by medical staff in an in-patient unit.

scholarly journals Attitudes of mental health practitioners to the Hippocratic Oath: tradition and modernity in psychiatry

2006 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 327-329
Author(s):  
Marek Marzanski ◽  
Tim Coupe ◽  
Padmapriya Musunuri
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
Hippocratic Oath ◽  
Postal Questionnaire ◽  
Mental Health Practitioners ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Mental Health Unit ◽  
Ethical Basis

Aims and MethodTo establish whether psychiatrists believe that medicine should be practised according to the principles of the Hippocratic Oath, an anonymised postal questionnaire survey was conducted of all medical staff at the Caludon Centre, an 80-bed in-patient mental health unit in Coventry.ResultsThirty-three respondents (82.5%) believed that medicine should be practised according to the Oath. Support for the 15 separate statements derived from the Oath varied considerably.Clinical ImplicationsThe principles of the Oath remain an important guide to the ethical basis of medical practice for most medical staff surveyed.

scholarly journals Audit of follow-up within 7 days on discharge from the mental health unit, Forth Valley Royal Hospital

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S225-S226
Author(s):  
Matthew Turner ◽  
Shaun Love ◽  
Fergus Douds ◽  
Anyssa Zebda
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Post Discharge ◽  
Royal Hospital ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Discharge Policy ◽  
Adult Psychiatry ◽  
Scheduled Care ◽  
Mental Health Unit

AimsTo determine compliance with the new discharge policy of review within 7-days for all General Adult Psychiatry patients discharged from Forth Valley Royal Hospital.BackgroundIt is well established that there is an increased risk of suicide following discharge from Inpatient Psychiatric Wards. This risk is significantly increased in the first month, and particularly high in the first week.In their 2016 Guidance, NICE recommends follow-up within 7 days of discharge. It is not known whether seven day follow-up reduces suicide risk but it is clearly an opportunity for risk assessment and management during a particularly risky period.This standard was adopted by the General Adult Wards in Mental Health Unit at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in April 2019.MethodAll discharges from Wards 1, 2 and 3, Forth Valley Royal Hospital were reviewed during three distinct, month-long periods:November 2018 (prior to the introduction of the new discharge policy)May 2019 (shortly after the introduction of the new discharge policy)September 2019 (six months after the introduction of the new discharge policy)A list was obtained from Medical Records of all General Adult patients discharged in these periods. The paper and electronic records were checked for each patient, and the first scheduled care episode post discharge was taken as follow-up.ResultIn the1st round of audit (November 2018): 41 patients were discharged and 26 patients (64%) received follow-up within 7 days.In the 2nd round of audit (May 2019): 46 patients were discharged, 39 patients (84%) received follow-up within 7 days.In the 3rd round of the audit (September 2019), 50 patients were discharged and 49 (98%) received follow-up within 7 days.ConclusionThere has been a clear improvement in the provision of follow-up on discharge from the General Adult Psychiatry Wards in Forth Valley Royal Hospital.The new discharge policy was implemented in April 2019 and a “Discharge Pause” was introduced (initially a sticker, now an electronic form) to be completed by the medical team at the point when it was decided to discharge.Community Mental Health Teams have also been reminded of their need to facilitate seven day follow-up as a priority. A flowchart was produced in May 2019, which provided guidance as to who should provide the seven day follow-up.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of audit in improving interview room safety

2001 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 92-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. J. Osborn ◽  
Sylvia Tang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Clinical Interviews ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Pilot Survey ◽  
Audit Cycle ◽  
Safety Features ◽  
Mental Health Unit

Aims and MethodsSafety features of rooms used for clinical interviews were assessed throughout our mental health unit. Following this pilot survey, 12 safety standards were agreed and adopted by a multi-disciplinary audit meeting. Recommendations were disseminated throughout the trust. Adherence to the accepted standards for interview room safety was assessed at 6 months and 1 year after baseline. Following each assessment, results were presented so that the audit cycle was completed twice.ResultsAt 6 months 46 interview rooms were assessed against the 12 accepted standards and many were found to be unsatisfactory. After presentation of these results, the 1 year assessment discovered few changes in safety features of the 50 rooms now being used.Clinical ImplicationsUnsafe rooms compromise the safety of staff and patients and this is clearly unacceptable. The audit process in itself failed as amethod of improving standards.

scholarly journals A qualitative exploration of the barriers to and facilitators of clozapine monitoring in a secure psychiatric setting

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Sarah Blagden ◽  
Jane Beenstock ◽  
Natalie Auld ◽  
Steve Noblett ◽  
Mark Limmer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Psychiatric Setting ◽  
Important Barrier ◽  
Qualitative Exploration ◽  
Mental Health Unit

Aims and method To explore the beliefs and understanding of staff and patients at a secure mental health unit regarding clozapine monitoring, and to identify barriers to and facilitators of monitoring. Qualitative semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 17 staff members and six patients. Results Six key themes were identified. The key facilitator of effective monitoring was the motivation of staff to help patients to become independent and facilitate recovery. An important barrier was a lack of clarity around the roles of different staff groups in monitoring. Staff and patients widely supported the establishment of an in-patient clozapine clinic and perceived that it would prepare patients for discharge. Clinical implications An in-patient clozapine clinic is a robust mechanism for clozapine monitoring in secure settings. The barriers and facilitators identified here could be applied to other secure units to guide their systems of clozapine monitoring.

The contribution of a mobile mental health unit to the promotion of primary mental health in rural areas in Greece: A 2-year follow-up

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 425-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Peritogiannis ◽  
C. Mantas ◽  
D. Alexiou ◽  
V. Fotopoulou ◽  
V. Mouka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Mobile Mental Health ◽  
Northwestern Greece ◽  
Mental Health Unit

AbstractDuring the 2 years of the mobile mental-health unit's operation in Northwestern Greece, the referrals increased rapidly with 29.4% of patients never having received mental-health care before, while hospitalizations and relapses reduced significantly, indicating that community-oriented programs can contribute greatly to successfully addressing the needs of patients in remote rural areas.

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