Linkage strategies in primary mental health care
Category | Strategy | Description |
---|---|---|
Direct collaborative activities | Link working | Organisational tasks connecting 2+ services—may involve limited clinical intervention but not expert clinical advice or structured liaison |
Co-location | Face to face—location of mental health worker in primary care—must provide treatment in primary care | |
Consultation liaison | Person 1 provides advice about care to person 2 without transfer of care—can be via a link worker | |
Care management | Coordination of care—including assessment, review, follow-up and care management plan; linking with other services or defined care pathway | |
Agreed guidelines | Protocols | Agreed treatment algorithm—pharmacotherapy or psychological therapy |
Stepped care | Treatment escalation or de-escalation procedure to other providers | |
Communication systems | Enhanced communication | Formal process with feedback—meetings, shared medical record |
Enhanced referral | Expedited access—explicit referral criteria/ process. | |
Electronic communication system | Tele—video conference connecting 2+ services | |
Service agreement | Service agreement | Memorandum of understanding—formal contract/ funding mechanism about how services work together |