The Queensland Mental Health Clinical Collaborative and the management of schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
This paper describes the development of a collaborative group of mental health clinicians who have come together to improve practice in adult acute mental health settings for the inpatient management of schizophrenia.


METHODS
Sixteen acute adult mental health inpatient services across Queensland worked together to develop clinical indicators related to the inpatient treatment of schizophrenia. Data collection was conducted by using information available on existing databases and through statewide chart audits using scannable form technology. Through a secure intranet site, and statewide forums, clinicians were able to access information on clinical indicators enabling them to compare their site data to peer and state data.


RESULTS
Available data from 15 of the 16 sites provided information on clinical indicators including average length of stay, 28-day readmission rates, antipsychotic prescribing, medication dose and the use of multiple antipsychotic medications at discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
The formation of the Mental Health Clinical Collaborative has brought together clinicians across the State to develop clinical indicators and openly discuss ideas to inform and improve clinical practice. This process has been effective in improving the quality of routinely collected information across the State and in engaging clinicians in using health information to drive clinical practice.
Plever
Sally
S
The Mental Health Clinical Collaborative, Fortitude Valley, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Sally_Plever@health.qld.gov.au
Emmerson
Brett
B
Chapple
Benjamin
B
Kennedy
Craig
C
Groves
Aaron
A
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019338:Polypharmacy; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011793:Queensland; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents