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VICTORIA – A new $8-million program is now in place to help patients with serious mental health and addictions issues receive improved, integrated care co-ordinated at the community level, announced Health Minister George Abbott today.
“Family physicians manage over 80 per cent of patients with mental health issues. Often situations arise where patients with serious mental health issues end up seeking care through an emergency department,” said Abbott. “With this new program, family physicians will be able to take additional time with patients, to partner with them and their family, as well as clinical associates, such as psychiatrists, whenever possible, to make certain patients are not left to manage their illness in isolation. This will result in better overall care and improved quality of life for patients living with mental issues.”
Government is actively working towards redesigning the primary health-care system so that patients living with mental health issues have improved access to family physicians and planned, collaborative care with other health professionals. This initiative will improve access to family physicians, which, in turn, will help ensure ongoing management of recommended guidelines.
“Early psychiatric diagnosis and consistent longitudinal care are paramount for patients living with mental health issues or addiction problems,” said Dr. Geoff Appleton, president of the BC Medical Association. “The new categories of care developed in this program make allowances for family physicians to take the additional time required to manage these patients.”
The Community Based Mental Health Care Program, which began Jan. 1, 2008, stems from a partnership between the provincial government and the BC Medical Association, through the General Practice Services Committee and the 2006 Agreement. The program was developed to improve patient quality of care, with special attention paid to the co-ordination of care that includes a comprehensive assessment, a personalized mental health care plan, and ongoing management.
This program will be evaluated and measured for improvements in patient health outcomes that include:
· increased detection of mental health issues;
· improved access to primary health care for underserved patients;
· treatment to recommended guidelines, resulting in less severe symptoms; and
· increased stability in patients’ lives, such a job tenure and better day-to-day functioning.
“The Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division is pleased with this new initiative targeted at family physicians,” said Bev Gutray, executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division. “There have been ongoing concerns by people with mental illness and their families around access to family physicians to treat their mental illness. We believe this new investment will allow time for the patient and doctor to develop an effective ongoing relationship. This is an important step in reform of the primary health care system.”
There are approximately 130,000 adults in B.C. living with severe mental health and addictions conditions. It is understood that not all seriously mentally ill patients will be identified through this initiative; however, it is hoped that with this new program approximately 30,000 patients who are most at risk from their mental health conditions will benefit.
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contact: |
Communications Director Ministry of Health 250 920-8500 (cell) 250 952-1889 (office) |
Media Relations Manager BC Medical Association 604 306-1866 (pager) 604 638-2832 (office) |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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