Psychogeriatric Liaison
Clinical Nurse Specialist Pilot
A six month pilot is underway within the
medical and surgical wards at both hospitals
to help better identify older patients admitted
to those wards, who may need mental health
support.
The role will see Kerry working on a case finding basis, identifying
patients in those wards from Trendcare as well as attending ward
rounds. She also expects to receive referrals from staff in those
wards. Kerry who is based at the Mental Health Service for Older
People (MHSOP) at Tauranga Hospital, will travel to Whakatāne
Hospital one day each week. She can be contacted on 027 705 9413
or [email protected]
Following a successful trial at Tauranga Hospital last year, the
service provided by Psychogeriatric Clinical Nurse Specialist Kerry
Capelin has been extended and expanded to include Whakatāne
Hospital.
Kerry says the pilot aims to identify patients who need mental
health support much sooner, monitor their progress and work with
other health professionals to provide a more co-ordinated and
holistic approach to health needs, leading to timely care and an
improved discharge plan.
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August 2018
Checkup
Checkup
d staff news
Health Boar
ty District
Bay of Plen
Safely – pag
Speak up
October 2018
Checkup
December
2018
Bay of Plen
ty District
Health Boar
d staff news
Bay of Plenty District Health Board staff news
e 11
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E 3 Flow
update
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The pilot’s part of a wider programme to reduce the length of
stay for older patients. Research shows identifying mental health
disorders in the elderly can be complex. And when the focus is
on physical health, mental health aspects are sometimes missed.
However having a mental health comorbidity, is associated with
increased length of stay and poorer outcomes on discharge,
especially when access to appropriate mental health support is
delayed.
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Allied Health awards – page 14
Ward style cafe
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Go 5210 every
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Our team
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Nurses’ leading
role in care
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Staff Reco
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Tauranga
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