Monday, 18 June 2007
Mental health
Hi guys. I was struggling to come up with something to blog about, so thought I would just share this. I have come across a few patients who struggle with mental health issues such as schizophrenia and depression. These patients often seem to be in and out of hospital with various issues. I came across one who had intentionally overdosed three days after being released from a hospital (following a similar admission). They had been released to attend outpatients appointments, but as it turns out was pehaps not ready for this. My question is whether there is anything else that can be done to manage these difficult situations? They obviously cannot be kept in hospital indefinately but discharging them to their own devices after such short period of time seems both ineffective and perhaps irresponsible..? Any thoughts?
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Hi megan,
a few pt's that i have had with similar mental issues have been kept in hospital until everyone is confident with their discharge and think that they are at a stage where they wont be readmitted the next day (ie physio's, doctors, social work etc). It is difficult to keep them in for too long as they are taking up a bed, however in these situations social work/OT/physio all attempt to discharge the pt to somewhere where they will have supervision and assistance, if they are definately not ready to return to independence. Also, the other thing that found has happened a few times is that the pt refuses to stay in hospital as they dont want any help. Here the doctors and physios make sure that there is paperwork that proves that the pt discharhed 'against medical advice' so that they/we are not liable for any accident that may happen once they leave hospital.
Thats all that i have seen my supervisors/me do on placements, so i hope that those thoughts are interesting!
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