This fall, the Douglas Mental Health University Institute will be expanding its program for those who require acute mental health care by launching a hospitalization at home service.
This project will enable care teams to look after users aged 18 years and older presenting with acute mood disorders, psychotic disorders or anxiety disorders on a 20-bed at home ward. In addition to extending the application, integration and continuity of the various intervention plans, the roll-out of this project will also help lower the average length of stays on the admissions units and relieve overcrowding in the Emergency. The team will consist of 17 individuals, more specifically, two social workers, a specialized educator, 12 nurses, a pharmacist and a psychiatrist.
On-going monitoring by a nurse means that users will be able to benefit from support 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, as well as at least 2 visits per day. Daily monitoring and medication adjustments, in addition to a weekly appointment with the psychiatrist, will also be available on the at home ward. Users will therefore be able to enjoy the same array of interdisciplinary services, albeit remotely, as they would in a hospital setting.
The service will allow for early treatment and close monitoring of those at high risk of deterioration who may be reluctant to being hospitalized in a psychiatric setting. From the comfort of their homes, these individuals will be more likely to understand and use an integrated approach to treat their symptoms, while also involving their social and professional networks in the process, should they wish to.
Hospitalization at home is based on mental health best practices. Its mandate is to treat users whose mental state is sufficiently unstable to warrant acute level care, and for whom emergency care or hospitalization would be required either immediately or in the coming days.
About hospitalization at home in Québec
This innovative approach is one of the priorities listed in the Plan d’action interministériel en santé mentale (PAISM), which aims to provide an alternative care experience by treating users in their environment. It therefore paves the way to treating more vulnerable clients and reducing stigma around mental health care. It is part of the vision for a more human and stronger network.
[1]Our CIUSSS is part of the seven hospital at home pilot projects that will be rolled-out across Québec between now and 2024. [2]Funding for these projects is a result of an agreement between the MSSS and the Institut de la pertinence des actes médicaux (IPAM).
[1]Lancement du Plan d'action interministériel en santé mentale 2022-2026 - Un investissement de plus de 1 milliard $ sur cinq ans pour améliorer l'accès à des soins et des services en santé mentale adaptés aux besoins des personnes Gouvernement du Québec (quebec.ca)
[2] Première phase de l'hospitalisation à domicile (coalitionavenirquebec.org)