Abstract

HORNILLOS JEREZ, Carlos; RODRIGUEZ PEDRAZA, Eva; GONZALEZ AGUADO, Francisco  and  FERNANDEZ LIRIA, Alberto. Physical presence of mental health professionals in a primary care centre as an alternative way of coordination: A pilot experience. Rev. Asoc. Esp. Neuropsiq. [online]. 2009, vol.29, n.2, pp.355-370. ISSN 2340-2733.

Introduction: Coordination problems between primary care and mental health levels suggest the need to explore new ways to improve communication between both levels. Procedures: A psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, moved to a primary care centre (experimental centre) once a week in order to assess patients referred by the general practitioners there and share afterwards their views with them. After 15 months working this way, general practitioners were given a survey about their satisfaction with their relation to mental health. Their answers were compared with those of the staff from another centre (control centre). Outcome: the staff in the experimental centre valued more positively than the staff in the control centre the following aspects: quality of information received from mental health, amount of contacts with mental health, availability of mental health staff, specific formation on mental health and coordination with mental health staff. Discussion: This experience shows how it is possible to develop an alternative way of coordination between mental health and primary care with which general practitioners feel highly satisfied. Methodological issues as well as possible ways for future works are discussed.

Keywords : Primary Health Care; Mental Health; Coordination.

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