title: A collaborative approach to improve the assessment of physical health in adult consumers with schizophrenia in Queensland mental health services.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to apply a quality improvement collaborative to increase the number of physical health assessments conducted with consumers diagnosed with schizophrenia in adult community mental health services across Queensland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen adult mental health service organisations voluntarily took part in the statewide collaborative initiative to increase the number of physical health assessments completed on persons with a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders managed through the community mental health service.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Improvement in the physical health assessment clinical indicator was demonstrated across the state over a 3-year period with an increase in the number of physical health assessments recorded from 12% to 58%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant improvements were made over a 3-year period by all mental health services involved in the collaborative, supporting the application of a quality improvement methodology to drive change across mental health services.
authors.affiliation: Manager, The Mental Health Clinical Collaborative, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Mental Health, Windsor, Brisbane, QLD, Australia Sally.Plever@health.qld.gov.au.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Plever
authors.affiliation: Manager, The Mental Health Clinical Collaborative, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Mental Windsor, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: Data Analyst, The Mental Health Clinical Collaborative, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Mental Windsor, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anzolin
authors.affiliation: Chair, The Mental Health Clinical Collaborative, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Mental Health, Windsor, Brisbane, QLD, and; Executive Director, Mental Health, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Emmerson
authors.affiliation: Biostatistician, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Mohsina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khatun
mesh_terms: D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000592:standards*; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000592:standards*; D011793:Queensland; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: collaborative; mental health; physical health; schizophrenia