Recovery doesn’t happen overnight. When it comes to physical health issues, this is obvious. When it comes to mental health, it is a fact of life. Still, when a patient is admitted to an inpatient ward, they cannot stay there for the rest of their lives. Patients need to return to their day-to-day lives, and new patients need their spots in treatment. According to a study published in psychiatry online, the average inpatient stay of those with serious mental illnesses is about ten days. So how can mental health practitioners expedite the process of recovery while assuring their patient the best care possible? Techniques range from using mental health practice management software to hiring the right staff.
Here are some things you and your staff can do to enhance your treatment:
- Use mental health practice management software. Software that is tailored specifically for mental health, such as Azzly Rise, can help keep staff on the same page without the baggage of constant meetings and clutter of paper notes.
- Stay in communication with the patient’s outpatient providers. Much of what keeps a patient inside of treatment is lack of communication with those outside. Maintaining a good rapport with them can help improve your patient’s experience when they leave the inpatient facility, too.
- In the same vein, have good outpatient providers in your back pocket to refer your patients to after discharge. Make sure that they take a variety of health insurance policies, have openings for new patients, and are accessible to your patient.
- Hire the right staff. This seems self-explanatory, but the right people can work wonders on the job.
- Get more one-on-one time with each patient. Not every patient thrives in a group environment. Make sure each patient has the opportunity to discuss their problems individually.
Providing good in patient care will help patients grow and recover. Keep in mind that doing it quickly is may be a priority, but doing it well is key.
