The Effects of a Referral Coordinator on Compliance With Psychiatric Discharge Plans

To investigate the effectiveness of a referral coordinator on patient compliance with initial aftercare referrals, the authors conducted a three-phase study involving 554 adult psychiatric patients at a Veterans Administration medical center. The first phase of the study established baseline data on compliance; the second phase monitored compliance following staff attempts to provide patients with more assistance in making initial aftercare appointments; and the third phase monitored compliance following the interventions of the referral coordinator. Analysis of the data on patient, hospital, and treatment characteristics indicated a marked increase in aftercare compliance after the addition of the referral coordinator to the treatment team. Compliance was especially increased in the most difficult patient group—the more acutely disturbed, chronic older patients. The authors discuss the implications of the results for discharge planning.