Improving psychiatric-psychological assessment capacity by matching level of care to client outcomes: Enhancing discharge planning at an operational stress injury clinic in Canada

Abstract

Mental health centres that assess and treat Canadian Forces members and Veterans have been experiencing an increasing number of referrals. At an Operational Stress Injury Clinic located in London, Ontario, which is mandated to treat this population, approximately half of clients are discharged within a year and another 12.1% require treatment for 5-9 years. The increasing complexities, such as multiple comorbidities, of these long-term clients reduce clinics' ability to rapidly assess and treat new clients. This article explores the decision point of whether to continue treatment or to discharge a client to a different level of care as well as how best to provide treatment while keeping care transitions in mind. Enhancing the discharge process could lead to a greater capacity for treating new referrals.