Electronic Patient Monitoring in Mental Health Services

Abstract

This chapter reviews advances in electronic patient monitoring in mental health service delivery. The first part focuses on interactive-voice-response (IVR) technology and its dual role of enhancing the efficient and reliable access to vital patient information and reducing the need for human resources in using that information to guide patient care. Future directions for IVR-mediated mental healthcare are outlined and challenges to dissemination and routine implementation are discussed. The second part of the chapter focuses on touch screen technology as a clinical tool for continuing, flexible treatment planning in mental health inpatient clinics. It reports on a successful trial of linking an innovative mental health ‘well-being thermometer’ to a touch screen interface for keeping electronic patient reported outcome data at the clinician’s finger tips. The authors argue that the field needs to move beyond feasibility studies and identify the drivers of and barriers to routine implementation.