Supporting better health outcomes for patients with Long Term Mental Health conditions

A new quality initiative from Compass Health is helping patients in the Wellington region benefit from annual wellness checks to address the physical health issues associated with some long term Mental Health conditions. The new real-time report, a first for New Zealand, helps GP teams more easily identify and prompt follow-up for some patients prescribed anti-psychotic medications. 

 “We know that people experiencing mental health and/or addiction issues are at unacceptably greater risk for a range of chronic health conditions, have worse physical health outcomes, and are at risk of dying earlier than their general population peers, “ says Dr Lynn McBain Compass Health Medical Director and local GP.  “The influence of anti-psychotics on weight gain and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major contributor to the inequitable rate of premature deaths,” she says.

 This report means that, GP teams in the Wellington region can more easily identify and follow up those patients prescribed anti-psychotic medicines who are at greater risk of many underlying conditions. “It will help our front line health services identify underlying issues earlier to enable proactive intervention and reduce the impact of Long Term Conditions,” says Dr McBain.

 Wellness check parameters may include:

• BMI

• HbA1c

• Lipids 

• Blood Pressure

• Smoking Status and whether Brief Advice has been given

• Cardio Vascular Risk Assessment

“As part of our commitment to the Equally Well collaborative, and our population, Compass Health wants to support GPs teams to provide this more holistic health service by having more regular primary care contact with people currently prescribed anti-psychotic medicine,” says Dr McBain. “Ultimately, it’s about better Health outcomes, and it shows how data can be an incredibly powerful tool for Primary Care management and quality. We’re committed to further progress towards equitable Health outcomes in collaboration with Equally Well,” she says.

“It is really good to see Primary Health organisations, like Compass Health, leading the way on Equally Well initiatives,” says Helen Lockett, Equally Well strategic lead. “The Primary Health Care sector has a key role to play in helping to improve the physical health of people who experience mental health conditions and addiction. Getting timely and relevant information to patients and GPs plays a crucial role,” she says.

Further reading

 • Equally Well: Physical Health 

https://www.tepou.co.nz/initiatives/equally-well-physical-health/37

https://www.tepou.co.nz/news/the-physical-health-of-people-with-mental-healthconditions-andor-addiction-evidence-update-december-2017/1101 

• RNZCGP Policy Brief May 2017 issue 9.

Accessed via https://oldgp16.rnzcgp.org.nz/assets/New-website/Publications/Policy/EquallyWellPB9May2017.pdf

Waitemata DHB. Safer use of high risk medicines.  May 2014. Atypical Antipsychotics Safer Prescribing Better but not perfect http://www.saferx.co.nz/full/atypical_antipsychotics.pdf