Unplanned admissions to inpatient psychiatric treatment and services received prior to admission

Modern mental health services try to ensure that people with severe mental illness spend the minimum amount of time in hospital because unnecessary hospital care is wasteful, stigmatizing and disliked by patients [1]. The main arguments for shifting care from institutions to community care are improved access to services, enabling people with mental illness to maintain family relationships, friendships and employment while receiving treatment, and reduced segregation and stigma [2]. However, the broad picture over the past two decades shows a progressive reduction in hospital beds, along with imbalanced, inadequate and slow investment in community services [3].

Source: Health Policy - December 20, 2017 Category: Health Management Authors: Solveig Osborg Ose, Jorid Kalseth, Marian Ådnanes, Tone Tveit, Solfrid E. Lilleeng Source Type: research