title: The mood disorders association of british columbia psychiatric urgent care program: a preliminary evaluation of a suggested alternative model of outpatient psychiatric care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe an alternative model of psychiatric outpatient care for patients with mood and anxiety disorders (the Mood Disorders Association of British Columbia Psychiatric Urgent Care Program or the MDA Program) using group medical visits (GMV) and (or) email communications in lieu of individual follow-up appointments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Annual costs of the MDA Program were compared with average costs of private psychiatrists offering outpatient care and patients being treated in a mental health centre. In addition, questionnaires as to patient satisfaction with the MDA Program intake, GMV experience, and family physician satisfaction with the MDA Program were administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MDA Program model of care is significantly more cost effective than individual psychiatric outpatient care or health authority mental health centre care for patients with moderate or severe illness. Patients and family physicians were very satisfied with the model of care and GMVs offered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MDA Program model of care appears to be efficient and cost-effective, and patients and referring physicians appear satisfied with the care offered in this program.
authors.affiliation: Medical Director, Mood Disorders Association of British Columbia Psychiatric Urgent Care Program, Vancouver, British Columbia.
authors.forename: Ronald A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Remick
authors.affiliation: Director of Research and Development, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia.
authors.forename: Yuriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.affiliation: Research Assistant, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bruce
authors.affiliation: Cofounder, Mood Disorders Association of British Columbia Psychiatric Urgent Care Program; Vancouver, British Columbia; Director, Psychiatric Outpatient Services, Department of Psychiatry, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gorman
authors.affiliation: Consultant Psychiatrist, Mood Disorders Association of British Columbia Psychiatric Urgent Care Program, Vancouver, British Columbia.
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Research Associate, Mood Disorders Association of British Columbia Psychiatric Urgent Care Program, Vancouver, British Columbia.
authors.forename: Abigail K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Remick
authors.affiliation: Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia; Member, Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lear
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D001955:British Columbia; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017146:Models, Organizational; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires