A Program to Improve Aftercare in a Rural Area
Abstract
A pilot project for improving aftercare in a rural area places the responsibility of aftercare on the project staff rather than on the hospital staff or referral agency personnel. Three counselors cover 31 counties in the catchment area. They contact patients before discharge and again within one month after discharge. When the patient is receiving the desired aftercare, the counsel-or steps aside, but maintains contact with the referral agency and is available to help the patient when necessary. A study of 23 patients after the first year of the program showed that the average number of days each spent in the hospital during one year droppedfrom 159 to 49, and the average yearly cost of hospitalization per patient decreased from $8614 to $3384. Two briof case examples show that the program also has enhanced the quality of life for many of the discharged patients.
Access content
To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.- Personal login
- Institutional Login
- Sign in via OpenAthens
- Register for access
-
Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability.
Not a subscriber?
PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.
Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).