Skip to main content
. 2022 May 27;9:892205. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.892205
Level Implementation of care transitions and caring contacts
Informal coordination Primary care practice makes sure care transition documents from the hospital are available. PCP has a follow-up appointment soon after a psychiatric emergency visit or psychiatric hospitalization. Using a list of high-risk patients, primary care practices encourage and track patient engagement in scheduled behavioral health appointments and send caring contact postcards or place follow-up phone calls at regular intervals for the next year.
Co-location See suggestions above. If a patient has follow-up appointments with co-located behavioral health providers, PCP discusses the patient's needs with behavioral health providers and negotiates who will send the caring contacts based on the strength of the relationship with the patient.
Integration Transition documents from the hospital are available to the team. The patient is placed as higher priority on the care registry to review frequently in collaborative meetings and make sure follow-up care is effective. Caring contacts are sent from a team member with whom the patient has a good relationship (e.g., care coordinator, PCP, or integrated therapist) at intervals for the following year.