New care model rolled out at community Mental Health Teams

In anticipation of growing future demand for mental health and addictions services in Vancouver, VCH Vancouver Community has now fully implemented a new model of care that recognizes the need for client transition along a path of recovery.

The new care model will better match a client’s clinical need to their required care levels. It will see every client move forward along a treatment continuum until they are eventually ready for discharge from one of our seven Mental Health and Addictions Teams and into the care of a fee-for-service community-based GP or psychiatrist.

“Our new care model has been rolling out across our mental health teams since late last year,” said Andrew MacFarlane, Director, Mental Health and Addiction, Urban. “It replaces the former approach which does not focus on recovery as an end-goal for all our clients.”

The new care model will ensure that we are continually identifying and treating the most complex, high-needs clients. A client’s readiness to transition will, in part, be determined by a new tool called LOCUS. LOCUS measures client function and will help clinicians match clients to appropriate levels of service and care.

Client transitioning is now well underway in Vancouver Community, and we expect that many more clients will make similar transitions over the coming months. All will have their progress tracked, and can be expeditiously returned to MH&A team care if required.

“By enshrining client flow as an integral part of a client’s journey toward wellness, we can make room for more clients to access the care they need in a timely manner, and all within existing resources,” said Laura Case, Executive Director, Vancouver Community.