Percentage of post-discharge community care within 7 days following discharge from acute specialised mental health inpatient services
Outcome one // Effectiveness KPI
Rationale
In 2022, one in four (6.6 million) Australians reported having a mental or behavioural condition. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure effective and appropriate care is provided not only in a hospital setting but also in the community.
Discharge from hospital is a critical transition point in the delivery of mental health care. People leaving hospital after an admission for an episode of mental illness have increased vulnerability and, without adequate follow up, may relapse or be readmitted.
The standard underlying the measure is that continuity of care requires prompt community follow-up in the period following discharge from hospital. A responsive community support system for persons who have experienced a psychiatric episode requiring hospitalisation is essential to maintain their clinical and functional stability and to minimise the need for hospital readmissions. Patients leaving hospital after a psychiatric admission with a formal discharge plan that includes links with public community- based services and support are less likely to need avoidable hospital readmissions.
Note: This indicator is reported by calendar year. Some indicators are reported by calendar year to allow for delays associated with the clinical coding of medical records, data quality checking, data linkage processing, and the setting of targets in accordance with the Government Budget Statement.
Target
The 2025 target for percentage of post-discharge community care within 7 days following discharge from acute specialised mental health inpatient services is ≥ 75.0 per cent. Improved or maintained performance is demonstrated by a result equal to or above target.
Results
| Year | Target | Actual | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years 2025 | Target 75.0% | Actual 84.9% |
|
| Years 2024 | Target | Actual 86.7% |
|
| Years 2023 | Target | Actual 84.2% |
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| Years 2022 | Target | Actual 86.8% |
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Commentary
Over the past 4 years, EMHS has consistently exceeded the target for this key performance indicator.
This result demonstrates our commitment to connecting with our mental health consumers within a week of being discharged from hospital, to assist them through a key period of transition of care. EMHS 7-day follow-up dashboard continues to support compliance, data quality and accurate recording of follow-up contacts by staff.
Period: 2022 to 2025 calendar years
Contributing sites: Armadale Hospital and Health Service, Bentley Hospital and Health Service, Royal Perth Bentley Group Transitional Care Unit (Bidi Wungen Kaat Centre4), Royal Perth Hospital, St John of God Midland Public Hospital
Data source: Mental Health Information Data Collection (MIND) (ambulatory mental health service contacts); HMDC (inpatient separations)
4The Transitional Care Unit was reported under Bentley Hospital and Health Service from 01/01/2023 to 31/07/2023.