Comparing Post-Discharge Care Standards after Mental Health Admissions

What is it about?

After leaving inpatient or residential mental health or substance use care, current national metrics emphasize prompt outpatient care follow-up within 30 days of discharge. This study looks at whether that short-term care is associated with longer-term impacts, and whether the amount of care in the short term makes a difference.

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Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This study found that patients who received follow-up care within 30 days of discharge had higher engagement with mental health and primary care over the next 6 months, and were less likely to die of any cause within 1 year. Patients who received more frequent follow-up visits, meeting the VA health system's more stringent bar of 2-4 visits within 30 days, compared to the single-visit standard used elsewhere, saw the strongest benefits.