Page 17 - UHN Centre for Mental Health Impact Report 2023

OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTIONS

Seamless Care Model Success Reshaping Addictions Care

Clinic’s Achievement Propels Program-wide Transition. Providing On-Call Expertise for Patients and Providers.

UHN’s Outpatient Mental Health clinic adopting this new care model helping
recently adopted a central intake refer- improve triage and administrative
ral model, aiming to enhance patient efficiency.
care and accessibility. Their success — in
reducing patient wait times and stream- By leveraging this technology, the clinic
lining treatment pathways — was invalu- can promptly respond to patients and
able in compelling the Centre for Mental referring physicians, collaborate effec-
Health to move forward implement a tively with other UHN teams, and relieve
program-wide central intake process. pressure on other units when needed,
resulting in a streamlined patient
Dr. Michael Armanyous, Medical Lead, experience and improved care delivery.
Outpatient Mental Health, expressed
satisfaction with the outcomes of the “Feedback has been very positive with
transition highlighting the reduction in greater satisfaction reported by patients,
time between accepting a referral and a clinicians, staff psychiatrists, and our
patient seeing a psychiatrist to four weeks enormously supportive administrative
or less, meeting CPSO guidelines and the team,” says Dr. Armanyous. Dr. Jon Mong
newly established HQO standards.
The program-wide implementation of the The Substance Use Intervention Team recommendations and facilitate referrals
The integration of Epic, UHN’s new health central referral intake model is scheduled (SUIT) is changing the way individuals to community resources. By doing so,
information system, played a vital role in for winter 2024. struggling with substance use disorders they strive to ensure that patients never
(SUD) are cared for at UHN by providing have to choose between addressing acute

hope and compassionate support. medical concerns or enduring agonizing
withdrawal symptoms on their own — a
Dr. Michael Armanyous
This innovative service launched in 2023 predicament that drives many to leave
provides on-call assistance to hospitalized the hospital prematurely.
individuals struggling with opioids and
alcohol, whether in the Emergency De- “It is a simple and basic thing to say, but
partment or any inpatient unit. we need to have empathy and respect
for these patients and make sure we give
Each year UHN sees between 4,000 to them the best care that we can” says Dr.
5,000 unique patients who require Jon Mong, UHN physician and SUIT team
addictions support. These patients grap- member.
ple with a multitude of challenges, includ-
ing chronic illnesses, concurrent medical Beyond supporting patients, SUIT also
disorders and the distressing stigma plays a vital role educating healthcare
associated with addiction. professionals across UHN who have
questions or need guidance on different
SUIT’s team of physicians offers assess care approaches for patients who use
ment, counseling, and medication substances.
16 17