OMH Takes Steps to Improve Prescribing Practices

OMH and the New York State Department of Health have collaborated on the development of a quality-improvement initiative for children and adults focusing on two quality concerns: (1) polypharmacy, including antipsychotic polypharmacy, and (2) the use of an antipsychotic with high/moderate risk for metabolic disturbance among children and adults with existing cardiometabolic conditions. This initiative has been implemented in 331 mental health clinics statewide, serving more than 140,000 consumers.

The Department of Health, in collaboration with OMH, has contracted with the State University of New York to develop the Prescriber Education Program for primary care physicians, focusing on antipsychotic use in primary care settings.

OMH has developed an OMH Care Path focusing on the appropriate use of antipsychotics among children and adults. It asks clinicians whether the antipsychotic is being used to treat a psychotic disorder and describes the critical decisions the prescriber must bear in mind regarding commencing and continuing treatment. Now being field tested, it will be implemented in state-operated clinics this month. The office has also released a Request for Proposals to support free expert consultation with a child psychiatrist for pediatricians treating children with mental health concerns.