Learn how an inpatient psychiatric unit successfully applied appreciative inquiry to improve the patient experience as they transition from inpatient psychiatric care to outpatient mental health services.
Leaders of the inpatient psychiatric unit at the University of Virginia Health System recognized the need for better communication and collaboration with community services for outpatients. Too often, patients discharged from inpatient care did not successfully transition to care in the outpatient facility or community service site to which they were referred. Frequently, these patients would experience a psychiatric deterioration and require readmission. Leaders believed that better communication and improved relationships among inpatient and outpatient care providers and community service providers would help prevent these transition issues.
Developing the Intervention
Faculty of the Center for Appreciative Practice facilitated a 2-day event focused on application of appreciative inquiry towards this goal. Fifty attendees gathered for 3 hours each day; attendees included physicians, nurses, representatives of community services groups, members of a mental health advocacy group, and patients who had used inpatient services at the health system in the past.
On the first day, the facilitators walked the group through a discovery process in which participants reflected on the positive aspects of the current state of mental health care in the community and the present care transition process. Patients told stories of their experiences that illustrated commitment, collaboration, empowerment, empathy, and perseverance. Next, patients described an ideal care transition process.
They listed:
Improved access to substance abuse treatment services
Additional face-to-face and electronic networks with care teams
The development of a transition clinic staffed jointly by inpatient and outpatient care providers
An especially moving moment occurred when one of the patient participants reflected on his experience of the day: “I can't believe how much you all care about us.”
On the second day of the event, facilitators helped the group create a revised transition process and begin plans for future implementation. As part of the new process, the group agreed upon a common format for care plans that would travel between sites and a common form for shared documentation.
As a result of the appreciative inquiry event, the connection and communication between inpatient care clinicians and outpatient community groups has improved. During the event, attendees learned about the services available from the other groups and about the roles of various members of those groups. Colleagues in outpatient settings, many of whom had worked together virtually for years, met in person for the first time, fostering improved professional relationships.
After the event, connections continued to grow. An inpatient nurse joined the board of a mental health advocacy group. Clinicians from the inpatient unit began volunteering at a homeless shelter that was frequented by patients. Individuals from community mental health groups hosted 3 educational sessions for the inpatient care team members and created a handout listing available community resources. Throughout the 2-day event and at each step of the group's implementation plan, appreciative inquiry facilitated improved connections between inpatient, outpatient, and community services. With the new transition process in place, patients benefit from smoother transitions and patient satisfaction scores have improved for psychiatric services.
The University of Virginia Health System is a large academic medical center with approximately 7500 faculty and staff. The system includes a dedicated Center for Appreciative Practice, which facilitates and spreads the use of appreciative inquiry methodology throughout the organization.