title: Evaluation of a new mental health liaison role in a rural health centre in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta: a Canadian story.
abstract: This paper describes the evaluation of a mental health liaison (MHL) role in a rural community in Alberta, Canada. The role provides advocacy, education, indirect and direct client intervention, and follow up. It was developed to eliminate gaps in mental health care and build collaborative cultures between the local hospital, physicians' offices, mental health clinics, and community agencies. Obtaining stakeholder feedback was an important step in assessing initial service impact while providing directions for role refinement and future programme development. A total of 116 questionnaires were distributed to physicians, hospital staff, and community mental health assessing stakeholder perception relating to various functions of the MHL. A 50% (n = 58) response rate was achieved with broad representation from different partners, including 75% of local physicians. The majority of respondents positively perceived the roles, functions, and impact of the MHL, including relationship development across the hospital community, improved access to services, and perceived improved client outcomes. The results reinforced that the MHL service meets a previously unmet need in this rural setting. Findings are being used to refine roles, provide local learning and resource development, understand issues relating to programme development in other areas, and develop client level outcomes relating to the services delivered.
authors.affiliation: Access and Early Intervention, Dave Thompson Health Region, Alberta, Canada. kbrinkman@dthr.ab.ca
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brinkman
authors.forename: Dwight
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hunks
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bruggencate
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clelland
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D016294:Models, Nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires