region/plan-specific news
: California
Help bolster patient safety efforts
Human Affairs International of California (HAI-CA)* recently tabulated the results of its annual patient safety survey applicable to California inpatient and residential facilities, plus psychiatrists, across its behavioral health network.
A total of 23.7% of network providers surveyed responded—a greater than 2% increase from the previous year.
While aggregate results for 2021 showed improvements in coordination/transition of care in areas such as facilities making referrals to physicians for medication assessment, providers seeking psychiatric consults when needed, and providers coordinating with PCPs when medication was prescribed, many other areas of care showed reduced levels of member care coordination at discharge and at times of transitions in care. This was apparent both within the behavioral health network and between medical and behavioral healthcare, and for medication management.
2021 results compared to 2020
The following tables illustrate results for specific patient safety activities. The percentage of positive responses represents providers who responded “always” or “often.”
|
Survey questions – coordination/transition of care Within the behavioral health system, do you or your staff… |
% positive 2021 |
% positive prior year |
|
Make referrals to a physician for medication assessment? (Facilities only)** |
96.8% |
90.3% |
|
Discuss cases with and/or send information to other behavioral health providers treating the patient? |
61.9% |
71.4% |
|
Send information about medication to treating providers? (Facilities only) |
82.5% |
96.8% |
|
Provide discharge instructions or a treatment summary to the patient? |
83.5% |
86.2% |
|
If not a physician, do you make a referral for psychiatric consultation as needed? (Individuals/Groups only) |
75.5% |
64.9% |
** Provider response rate too low to indicate meaningful change.
|
Survey questions – coordination/transition of care Between the behavioral health system and the primary/medical care system, do you or your staff… |
% positive 2021 |
% positive prior year |
|
Contact the patient’s primary care provider (PCP) to share information about the case? |
41.5% |
48.1% |
|
Discuss the history of adverse medication reactions with patient’s PCP? |
47.0% |
57.0% |
|
Fax/mail information/summaries to the PCP? |
41.5% |
50.0% |
|
Provide discharge instructions or a treatment summary to the patient? |
73.8% |
79.2% |
|
Coordinate with the patient’s PCP when medication is prescribed? |
60.3% |
54.1% |
|
Send the patient’s discharge summary and lab results to the patient’s PCP? |
59.0% |
61.3% |
|
Survey questions – medication management Regarding review of medication profiles, do you/does your staff… |
% positive 2021 |
% positive prior year |
|
Develop a plan if a history of patient medication non-compliance is noted? |
90.7% |
97.8% |
|
Assess the patient’s medication compliance at each visit? |
98.3% |
97.4% |
|
Survey questions – medication management In monitoring antipsychotics per ADA/APA guidelines, do you/does your staff… |
% positive 2021 |
% positive prior year |
|
Perform weight/waist circumference/lab tests at the start of medication? |
74.2% |
76.6% |
|
Perform repeat weight/waist measures as required? |
72.7% |
77.6% |
|
Assess the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) annually for movement side effects? |
80.0% |
85.2% |
|
Survey questions – medication management Regarding use of medications for substance use disorders, do you/does your staff… |
% positive 2021 |
% positive prior year |
|
Educate patients about medication assisted treatment/anti-craving options for substance/opioid use disorders? |
83.3% |
88.7% |
|
Prescribe anti-craving medication to support substance/opiate abstinence? |
73.1% |
70.8% |
Making a difference in patient care
As shown above, 2021’s survey generally reported downward trends in providers’ patient safety efforts compared to the prior year. Throughout 2021, HAI-CA implemented quality improvement activities to address these areas. The workgroup identified a number of barriers to providers’ completion of patient safety efforts.
We will continue to work with providers on patient safety, coordination of care and medication management practices—all of which help improve patient care outcomes.
*In California, Magellan does business as Human Affairs International of California and Magellan Health Services of California, Inc. - Employer Services.