Establishing a COVID-positive mental health ward: an Australian-first case study.
Australas Psychiatry
; 30(1): 23-25, 2022 02.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1506206
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Managing mental health patients during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a global challenge. Current workforce arrangements tend to separate those skilled in caring for highly infectious medical patients from those whose specialism is in managing co-morbid mental health, substance misuse and/or behaviours of concern, including potential non-compliance with community or health care directives. This paper reports an innovative service development through the emergency establishment of a temporary COVID-positive mental health ward in response to a local outbreak in Melbourne.METHOD:
A case study of service reorientation is presented, examining barriers and enablers to effective care of co-morbid mental illness, addiction and COVID-19.RESULTS:
Establishing a skilled multidisciplinary workforce across mental health and infectious disease is the most important consideration in optimising care. Other issues included suitable physical space, security arrangements and inter-disciplinary communication.CONCLUSIONS:
The paper holds insights for managing mental health care during potential future infectious disease outbreaks across the country.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
/
Mental Disorders
Type of study:
Case report
/
Observational study
/
Qualitative research
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
English
Journal:
Australas Psychiatry
Journal subject:
Psychiatry
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
10398562211045086
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS