title: St George Acute Care Team: the local variant of crisis resolution model of care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to describe functioning and clinical activities of the St George Acute Care Team and how it compares to the typical crisis resolution model of care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive data including demographics, sources of referral, type of clinical intervention, length of stay, diagnoses and outcomes were collected from records of all patients who were discharged from the team during a 10 week period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 677 referrals. The team's functions consisted of post-discharge follow-up (31%), triage and intake (30%), case management support (23%) and acute community based assessment and treatment (16%). The average length of stay was 5 days. The majority of patients were diagnosed with a mood (23%) or a psychotic (25%) disorder. Points of contrast to other reported crisis resolution teams include shorter length of stay, relatively less focus on direct clinical assessment and more telephone follow-up and triage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  St George Acute Care Team provides a variety of clinical activities. The focus has shifted away from the original model of crisis resolution care to meet local and governmental requirements.
authors.affiliation: Staff Specialist Psychiatrist, St George Acute Care Team, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, and; Conjoint Senior Lecturer, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia Denise.Cupina@health.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Denise D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Cupina
authors.affiliation: Staff Specialist Psychiatrist, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, and; Conjoint Senior Lecturer, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne P F
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Wand
authors.affiliation: St George Acute Care Team, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Phelan
authors.affiliation: St George Acute Care Team, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Rona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Atkin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019090:Case Management / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003419:Crisis Intervention / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: acute community psychiatry; ambulatory care; crisis resolution teams; service delivery