title: The Mental Health Acute Assessment Team: a collaborative approach to treating mental health patients in the community.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many models of community-based mental health crisis teams have been reported. We present our experience of an outreach team made up of a paramedic and mental health nurse.
  
  
  METHODS
  A proof-of-concept was conducted in Western Sydney. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients where the team were able to facilitate the most appropriate care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly 70% of patients were able to be treated outside the Emergency Department, with about two-thirds being transported directly to a mental health facility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have demonstrated that our model of care is successful in enabling appropriate physical and mental health care for patients suffering an acute mental health crisis.
authors.affiliation: Manager, Clinical Project Evaluation, NSW Ambulance, Rozelle, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Faddy
authors.affiliation: Director, Mental Health, NSW Ambulance, Rozelle, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.affiliation: Research officer, Protocols, NSW Ambulance, Rozelle, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Peta T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: Director, Mental Health Services, Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Senthil S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Muthuswamy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000070516:Intersectoral Collaboration; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D009726:Nurses; D010348:Patient Care Team; D000075082:Proof of Concept Study; D014187:Transportation of Patients
keywords: ambulance; community care; mental health; multi-disciplinary teams