title: Mental health care professionals' experiences with the discharge planning process and transitioning patients attending outpatient clinics into community care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health care reform promotes delivery of mental health care in the community. Outpatient mental healthcare professionals (HCPs) are pressured to discharge patients. This study's purpose: to understand the experience and perceptions of mental HCPs with discharge planning and transitioning patients into community care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve HCPs participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three main categories: engaging in the discharge planning process, making the transition smooth, and guiding values emerged. A conceptual framework was created to explain the phenomenon.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCPs valued strengthening partnerships and building relationships to ensure smooth transition. Sufficient resources and trust imperative for safe patient discharge.
authors.affiliation: McGill University Ingram School of Nursing, Montréal, Québec, Canada. Electronic address: ann.m.noseworthy@mail.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Ann Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Noseworthy
authors.affiliation: McGill University Ingram School of Nursing, Montréal, Québec, Canada. Electronic address: elizabeth.sevigny@mail.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sevigny
authors.affiliation: McGill University Health Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital-S11, Montréal, Québec, Canada. Electronic address: andrea.laizner@muhc.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Andrea M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Laizner
authors.affiliation: McGill University Health Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital-S11, Montréal, Québec, Canada. Electronic address: claudine.houle@muhc.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Claudine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Houle
authors.affiliation: McGill University Health Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital-S11, Montréal, Québec, Canada. Electronic address: pina.lariccia@muhc.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Pina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: La Riccia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010360:Patient Transfer; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011792:Quebec