Harriss, Linton, Smith, Karen, and Currell, Alex (2010) Ambulance service provision to people experiencing mental illness. Report. Ambulance Victoria, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. (Unpublished)

PDF (Draft) Restricted to Repository staff only

Abstract

[Extract] Introduction: The following report provides information on an evaluation of ambulance service provision to people experiencing mental illness in metropolitan Melbourne for the 2008/2009 financial year.

This research follows on from a previous analysis of mental health related attendances by Ambulance Victoria (previously Metropolitan Ambulance Service) in 2006. The previous study was limited to the identification of mental health patients using Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) codes, which are allocated at the call-taking stage. This limited the ability to identify mental health patients, as the information given at the call-taking stage may differ from the actual condition of the patient.

A key finding from the previous study was that over 65% of the mental health patients attended by AV were transported and compliant. However, only 11.5% of total patients received paramedic treatment. This suggested that the transport responsibility for mental health patients warrants further review and that other organisations / services may be able to provide this function more effectively and appropriately.

The staged introduction of the Victorian Ambulance Clinical Information System (VACIS), across the AV metropolitan area in December 2006 has meant that it is now possible to identify mental health patients via clinical data gathered by attending paramedics, rather than via MPDS codes. In addition, patient care data can be extracted electronically allowing for increased sampling and more detailed analysis.

The purpose of this research was to conduct a comprehensive epidemiological evaluation of mental health patients attended by AV in the metropolitan area using VACIS, CAD and Finance data obtained from Data Warehouse, and supplemented with data from the Referral Service and the Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset (VEMD). The focus of the research is on patients attended by emergency ambulance.

The ability to identify mental health patients via a Data Warehouse filter represents a considerable step forward for AV. However, this report does not include analysis for regional areas as electronic capture of data has only recently commenced.

A recent innovation in VACIS software enables paramedics to access hospital and mental health services information while at scene. This will facilitate inter-agency liaison and improve treatment and transport options available to patients.

In 2009 the Victorian Auditor General's Office conducted an audit titled 'Responding to mental health crises in the community'. A key finding of the audit was that management is likely to be improved through the availability of more mental health services, so that the need for ambulance assistance in a crisis is minimised. Many of the recommendations specific to AV are currently being addressed.

Item ID:	40516
Item Type:	Report (Report)
Date Deposited:	16 Sep 2015 03:54
FoR Codes:	11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1103 Clinical Sciences > 110305 Emergency Medicine @ 40% 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111706 Epidemiology @ 30% 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111714 Mental Health @ 30%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920410 Mental Health @ 40% 92 HEALTH > 9202 Health and Support Services > 920204 Evaluation of Health Outcomes @ 30% 92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920404 Disease Distribution and Transmission (incl. Surveillance and Response) @ 30%
Downloads:	Total: 2
	More Statistics