Ensuring Continuity of Care: Effective Strategies for the Post-hospitalization Transition of Psychiatric Patients in a Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic

Abstract

In healthcare, continuity of care is a crucial element, especially for patients in the field of psychiatry who have recently been discharged from a hospital. The shift from inpatient to outpatient care poses challenges for patients and healthcare providers, including openness to treatment, competing priorities, financial insecurity, concerns and dilemmas faced by patients regarding their post-hospitalization life after improvements in symptoms, lack of social support, poor patient-doctor relationships, lack of insight, and stigma associated with mental illness. Therefore, it is vital to employ effective strategies to ensure patients receive the required care and support during this transition. This review delves into the significance of continuity of care for psychiatric patients post-hospitalization, effective strategies for the transition, and the challenges and barriers to implementation from the perspective of a family medicine practice. To analyze physicians' role in managing psychiatric patients post-hospitalization, we developed a comprehensive search strategy. This involved extracting relevant data, updates, guidelines, and recommendations. Our search spanned various online repositories, such as PubMed and Google Scholar, specifically focusing on US-based guidelines aligned with our objectives. The search was conducted using medical subject headings (MeSH) and combinations of "OR," "AND," and "WITH." We crafted keywords to optimize our search strategy, including psychiatric illness, post-hospitalization, follow-up, follow-up care, primary care follow-up, and guidelines. Exploring online repositories yielded 132 articles, and we identified some guidelines that addressed our objectives. We established inclusion and exclusion criteria for our review and reviewed 21 papers. Post-hospitalization follow-up is a critical facet of psychiatric care, aligning with guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association and other relevant sources. Emphasizing continuity of care ensures a smooth transition from inpatient to outpatient settings, sustaining therapeutic momentum and minimizing the risk of relapse. This comprehensive approach involves careful medication management, regular mental health assessments, education on condition-specific coping strategies, and coordinated care between healthcare providers. It includes conducting risk assessments, safety planning, building social support and community integration, prompt post-hospitalization follow-up, and tailored treatment plans. Together, these measures enhance overall wellness for recently discharged patients. This holistic strategy tackles pressing short-term needs while facilitating long-term stability, promoting resilience and successful community reintegration, reducing readmission likelihood, and ultimately supporting sustained recovery.

Keywords: challenges and barriers; continuity of care; family medicine practice; physicians' role; post-hospitalization; psychiatry patients; transition of care.