Table of contents
- Key principles
- Background information
- Best practice principles for effective communication
- Communication methods
- Overcoming barriers to communication
- Appendix A: Referral and reporting obligations under Better Access
- Referrer obligations
- Obligations of service providers
Benefits of effective communication
The timeliness and quality of communication between health professionals has important implications for consumers[3] and mental health service providers.[4]
When mental health professionals communicate well, coordination of care is improved leading to better patient outcomes and improved compliance by health professionals. This also has a flow-on effect for costs to the healthcare system. When health professionals work well together they reduce risk factors associated with deteriorating mental health that can lead to more expensive specialised services or hospitalisation.
References
- Grimshaw, J.M., Winkens, R.A.G., Shirran, L., Cunninham, C., Mayhew, A., Thomas, R., & Fraser, C. (2006). Interventions to improve outpatient referrals from primary care to secondary care (Review). The Cochrane Collaboration. John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Fredheim, T., Danbolt, L., Haavet, O., Kjonsberg, K., Lien, L. (2011). Collaboration between general practitioners and mental health care professionals: a qualitative study. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 5, 1-7.