title: The role of boundary spanners in delivering collaborative care: a process evaluation.
abstract: On average, people with schizophrenia and psychosis die 13-30 years sooner than the general population (World Psychiatry 10 (1):52-77, 2011). Mental and physical health care is often provided by different organisations, different practitioners and in different settings which makes collaborative care difficult. Research is needed to understand and map the impact of new collaborative ways of working at the primary/secondary care interface (PloS One 7 (5); e36468). The evaluation presented in this paper was designed to explore the potential of a Community and Physical Health Co-ordinator role (CPHC) (CPHCs were previously Care Co-ordinators within the Community Mental Health Team, Community in the title CPHC refers to Community Mental Health) and Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings across primary and community care, with the aim of improving collaboration of mental and physical health care for service users with Severe Mental Illness (SMI).
  
  
  
  Data collection took place across five general practices (GPs) and a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) in the Northwest of England, as part of a process evaluation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of GP staff (n= 18) and CMHT staff (n=4), a focus group with CMHT staff (n=8) and a survey completed by 13 CMHT staff, alongside cardiovascular risk data and MDT actions. Framework analysis was used to manage and interpret data.
  
  
  
  The results from the evaluation demonstrate that a CPHC role and MDT meetings are effective mechanisms for improving the collaboration and co-ordination of physical health care for SMI service users. The findings highlight the importance of embedding and supporting the CPHC role, with an emphasis on protected time and continuing professional roles and integrating multiple perspectives through MDT meetings. Considering the importance of physical health care for SMI service users and the complex environment, these are important findings for practitioners, researchers and policy makers in the field of primary care and mental health.
  
  
  
  There is an increasing focus on integration and collaborative working to ensure the delivery of quality care across the whole patient pathway, with a growing need for professionals to work together across service and professional boundaries. The introduction of a two pronged approach to collaboration has shown some important improvements in the management of physical health care for service users with SMI.
authors.affiliation: NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC), Greater Manchester, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, 3rd Floor Mayo Building, Stott Lane, Salford, M6 8HD, Greater Manchester, UK. Carianne.hunt@srft.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Carianne M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.affiliation: NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC), Greater Manchester, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, 3rd Floor Mayo Building, Stott Lane, Salford, M6 8HD, Greater Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.affiliation: Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Room E26, Booth Street East, Manchester, M15 6PB, UK.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McBride
mesh_terms: D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards*; D017144:Focus Groups; D058006:General Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D024382:Professional Role
keywords: Boundary spanning; Co-ordinated care; Community care; Mixed methods; Primary care; Severe Mental Illness (SMI)