Identified Workplace problem: referral process
Richmond Family Medicine (RFM) is a patient centered medical home that opened up to patients in October 2011. The psychiatric nurse practitioner (PNP) has been a part of the treatment team since that time, and accepts referrals for consultation, psychiatric evaluations, and medication recommendations. Over the past few years, the system for initiating, triaging and completing referrals has varied. There has been no ongoing consensus and system within the practice for a referral system that flows seamlessly. In addition, there are several barriers complicating the referral process.
Background/Team Members
Five providers, three physicians who are the practice partners and two nurse practitioners, …show more content…
In Vermont in particular, with APRN independent practice, nurse practitioners have the potential to fill many roles and provide psychiatric care in coordination with primary care providers. Providing mental health care as part of a community health team utilizes the expertise of the nurse practitioner to provide direct patient care, consultative services, education and programming. A team-based approach in a primary care setting can be one way to improve access to care, and decrease the stigma associated with mental health …show more content…
This has led to the question of who will triage the acuity levels of referrals to the Psych NP and assist with determining scheduling. In addition, it is important to have a work flow system in place for referrals that communicates health information accurately to the psych NP, and back to the referring provider.
Current Electronic Health Systems in Use at RFM
The practice has purchased and uses the Medent EHR, and all the providers document and utilize Medent except for the Psych NP ("Medent EMR/EHR "). The PNP utilizes a web based EHR for documentation that can be used at all of the sites she consults ("Icanotes Behavioral Heatlh EHR,"). She does have access to and utilizes Medent for scheduling, billing, triage messages and communicating with the other providers at RFM. Within Medent, there is also a referral option that can be utilized and documents can be flagged for review.
Currently, the CHT social worker initially meets with the patients to triage acuity before they are scheduled with the Psych NP or referred out in to the community. Historically communication has been verbal, and informal between the social worker and psych NP. Once evaluated by the psych NP, the patient will be referred back to the referring provider with the evaluation completed and any
Richmond Family Medicine (RFM) is a patient centered medical home that opened up to patients in October 2011. The psychiatric nurse practitioner (PNP) has been a part of the treatment team since that time, and accepts referrals for consultation, psychiatric evaluations, and medication recommendations. Over the past few years, the system for initiating, triaging and completing referrals has varied. There has been no ongoing consensus and system within the practice for a referral system that flows seamlessly. In addition, there are several barriers complicating the referral process.
Background/Team Members
Five providers, three physicians who are the practice partners and two nurse practitioners, …show more content…
In Vermont in particular, with APRN independent practice, nurse practitioners have the potential to fill many roles and provide psychiatric care in coordination with primary care providers. Providing mental health care as part of a community health team utilizes the expertise of the nurse practitioner to provide direct patient care, consultative services, education and programming. A team-based approach in a primary care setting can be one way to improve access to care, and decrease the stigma associated with mental health …show more content…
This has led to the question of who will triage the acuity levels of referrals to the Psych NP and assist with determining scheduling. In addition, it is important to have a work flow system in place for referrals that communicates health information accurately to the psych NP, and back to the referring provider.
Current Electronic Health Systems in Use at RFM
The practice has purchased and uses the Medent EHR, and all the providers document and utilize Medent except for the Psych NP ("Medent EMR/EHR "). The PNP utilizes a web based EHR for documentation that can be used at all of the sites she consults ("Icanotes Behavioral Heatlh EHR,"). She does have access to and utilizes Medent for scheduling, billing, triage messages and communicating with the other providers at RFM. Within Medent, there is also a referral option that can be utilized and documents can be flagged for review.
Currently, the CHT social worker initially meets with the patients to triage acuity before they are scheduled with the Psych NP or referred out in to the community. Historically communication has been verbal, and informal between the social worker and psych NP. Once evaluated by the psych NP, the patient will be referred back to the referring provider with the evaluation completed and any