Improving the quality of medical reports to mental health review tribunals

2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 215-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Egleston ◽  
Michael D. Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Audit ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Quality Of Reports ◽  
Medical Reports ◽  
Health Review

AIMS AND METHODWe aimed to determine, using clinical audit, the effect of implementing national guidelines on the quality of responsible medical officers' (RMOs’) reports to the mental health review tribunal (MHRT). We blindly assessed the quality of 50 consecutive reports concerning patients detained under Sections 3 and 37. Twenty-five reports were written before guidelines were circulated; a further 25 were written following the distribution of guidelines and a checklist with every request for a report.RESULTSThe quality of reports, as measured by our checklist, significantly improved following the circulation of guidelines.CLINICAL IMPLICATIONSIncreasing the awareness of guidelines by widespread circulation and the audit process is an effective way of improving the quality of RMOs' reports to the MHRT.

scholarly journals Improving prescription quality in an in-patient mental health unit: three cycles of clinical audit

2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 293-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priti Ved ◽  
Tim Coupe
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
Clinical Audit ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Patient Age ◽  
Patient Âgé ◽  
Mental Health Unit

Aims and MethodWe undertook three cycles of clinical audit of prescription charts to improve the quality of the prescriptions written in an in-patient unit. Pharmacy and medical staff reviewed a total of 1466 prescriptions on 242 prescription charts against local guidelines and provided feedback to medical staff. The pharmacist also regularly reviewed prescription charts on the wards between audits.ResultsAfter three cycles of audit, 99.5% of prescriptions written were legible. The recording of drug allergies, section 58 status and patient age remained poor.Clinical ImplicationsA combination of clinical audit and continual pharmacist review of prescription charts can improve the quality of prescriptions written by medical staff in an in-patient unit.

Mental health review tribunal medical reports

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 615-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalida Ismail ◽  
Shubulade Smith ◽  
Tony Maden
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Forensic Psychiatry ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Mental Health Act ◽  
Acceptable Standard ◽  
Medical Reports ◽  
Health Review

Aims and methodMedical reports submitted to mental health review tribunals should be of a clinically acceptable standard. We examined 100 medical reports to assess whether they stated the four criteria for detention under Section 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983. We compared the standard of reports according to the seniority, qualifications and speciality of the doctor, and with the outcome from the tribunal.ResultsThe majority of the reports were written by junior doctors and did not fulfil the criteria laid down by the Mental Health Act 1983. Consultant and forensic psychiatry status were associated with completed reports.Clinical implicationsThis study was performed in one hospital only but highlights the ongoing need to review and improve the workings of the Mental Health Act before reform is considered.

An audit of the quality of reports to Mental Health Review Tribunals

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry O'Muirithe ◽  
Rohit Shankar
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Quality Of Reports ◽  
Health Review

scholarly journals Nurses’ perspectives of the nursing documentation audit process

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mokholelana M. Ramukumba ◽  
Souher El Amouri
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Clinical Audit ◽  
Abu Dhabi ◽  
Release Time ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Nursing Documentation ◽  
Implementation Processes ◽  
Enhance Patient Safety ◽  
Group Interviews

Background: Nursing has an obligation to the public to develop measures for the quality of care to enhance patient safety and efficiency of the system. The first hospital to introduce the clinical audit of nursing documentation was in Abu Dhabi. The rationale was the recognition of the link between clinical audits and the quality of patient care and safety. This article recognises the importance of documentation audits in nursing practice and the role of nurses related to conducting audits in a selected hospital in Abu Dhabi. Many studies have shown the potential benefits of documentation audits to evaluate or assess the quality of recorded nursing assessments and care.Aim: The aim of this study was to explore nurses’ perspectives of the documentation audit process.Method: The study adopted an exploratory, descriptive qualitative approach using the evaluation method. Data were collected using three focus group interviews consisting of 4 informatics and 13 documentation link nurses involved in the implementation of the clinical audit on nursing documentation in the selected hospital. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.Results: Three major themes evolved from the research findings: implementation of documentation audit, evaluation of audit and measures to improve documentation audit. Strengths and weaknesses of the documentation audit were articulated by the nurses. Generally, nurses were satisfied with the audit process and made recommendations on improvements.Conclusion: Processes adopted by the team were reasonable and useful, and the preparation and planning for the clinical audit were regarded as areas of strength. Areas of weaknesses in the implementation processes identified included dissemination of findings and executing improvements. This could be improved with necessary support from the hospital management, especially with regard to release time to implement required changes. The complexity of auditing electronic versus paper-based nursing documentation is acknowledged.

scholarly journals Medical certification of incapacity in guardianship applications: conceptualising capacity

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-44
Author(s):  
Tom C. Russ ◽  
Alison Thomson ◽  
Donald Lyons
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Due Process ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Medical Certification ◽  
Mental Health Legislation ◽  
Medical Reports ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Health Legislation

Aims and methodTo examine how capacity is recorded in practice and compare this with the statutory definition, medical reports accompanying a random 10% sample (183 applications; 360 reports) of guardianship applications granted in 2011–2012 were examined.ResultsClinicians did not explicitly use the statutory definition of capacity in 47.5% of reports. Over half of applications (56.4%) did not explicitly link the powers sought with the patient's vulnerabilities; such a link was less common in older adults (P = 0.0175).Clinical implicationsGuardianship orders can justify deprivation of liberty. Therefore it is important that such cases involve a thorough assessment of the person and that due process is followed, including adherence to the statutory definition of capacity. Practice could be improved by altering the paperwork required of medical practitioners, in line with mental health legislation. In addition, these findings should inform current legislation reform.

scholarly journals Measuring relational security in forensic mental health services

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 358-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verity Chester ◽  
Regi T. Alexander ◽  
Wendy Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Forensic Mental Health ◽  
Occupational Groups ◽  
Form Part ◽  
Good Internal Consistency

Aims and methodRelational security is an important component of care and risk assessment in mental health services, but the utility of available measures remains under-researched. This study analysed the psychometric properties of two relational security tools, the See Think Act (STA) scale and the Relational Security Explorer (RSE).ResultsThe STA scale had good internal consistency and could highlight differences between occupational groups, whereas the RSE did not perform well as a psychometric measure.Clinical implicationsThe measures provide unique and complimentary perspectives on the quality of relational security within secure services, but have some limitations. Use of the RSE should be restricted to its intended purpose; to guide team discussions about relational security, and services should refrain from collecting and aggregating this data. Until further research validates their use, relational security measurement should be multidimensional and form part of a wider process of service quality assessment.

scholarly journals Online media reporting of suicides: Analysis of adherence to existing guidelines

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Utterson ◽  
Jason Daoud ◽  
Rina Dutta
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Search Engine ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Reporting Guidelines ◽  
Online Media ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Local Media ◽  
National Media ◽  
Media Reports

Aims and methodTo assess the compliance of contemporary online media output with guidelines for the responsible reporting of suicidal acts. A search engine was used to identify online media reports of suicide from UK sources over the course of 1 month. Each article was assessed against guidelines for the responsible reporting of suicide produced by the Samaritans, a UK mental health charity.ResultsWe identified 229 articles, of which 199 failed to comply with at least one of the Samaritans' guidelines. Failure to mention support sources, excessive detail about the method used and undue speculation about the trigger for suicide were the most commonly breached guidelines. Significant differences were found between the quality of local and national media sources, with local media sources being broadly more compliant with guidelines.Clinical implicationsThis study highlights the urgent need for the implementation of responsible reporting guidelines in online media articles as a component of suicide prevention efforts.

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