DR. RODGERS: Now that I’ve referred Antoine and Judith for mental health treatment, what do I do now to ensure that they’ll follow through with their appointments?
DR. EBER: I’m glad you brought this up. Often times, patients don’t show up for their sessions, they stop taking their medications, or they use the medication in ways that were not intended, like changing their dosage. That’s why follow-up care is so important in managing patients with mental health disorders.
DR. RODGERS: To be honest, I’m concerned about having the time to follow-up with every patient I refer.
DR. EBER: Well, anyone in your office can make follow-up calls—ideally someone who interacted with the patient when they were in the office.Thorough documentation of patient visits makes this multi-staff approach easier and is important for liability purposes. It’s a good idea to flag or track the files of patients for whom you suggest mental health treatment, whether in your office filing system or in electronic medical records.
DR. RODGERS: And what are some best practices for following up with patients?
DR. EBER: Let’s look at that.
Here are some of the best practices for following up with patients:
If you prescribed medication for depression or GAD, call in 2 – 4 weeks, to make sure the prescription was filled and to remind the patient that these medications often take a few weeks to take effect. At this point, you can also schedule a follow-up appointment to check in and discuss possible changes to the medication, if necessary.
If you made a referral to a mental health professional, call the patient in 1 – 2 weeks, and/or schedule a follow-up appointment, depending on the severity of the patient’s situation. Ask if the patient was able to keep the appointment and if they found it helpful. Also, be in touch with the mental health professional to whom you referred the patient to keep apprised of the patient’s progress.
If the patient’s risk for suicide is at least moderate, set up a time together for a follow-up call in the next 1-2 days, and also schedule a follow-up appointment a few days after the therapist appointment. And, when the patient returns to your office for future appointments, remember to check in about how they’re doing and how treatment is going.