Saurman Emily, Perkins David, Roberts Russell, Roberts Andrew, Patfield Martyn, Lyle David
Centre for Remote Health Research, BrokenHill University Department of Rural Health, The University of Sydney, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia.
J Emerg Nurs. 2011 Sep;37(5):453-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jen.2010.11.005. Epub 2011 Feb 22.
Mental health is a national priority in Australia, and the need is greatest where access to specialist care is poorest, in the rural and remote regions of the nation. The Mental Health Emergency Care-Rural Access Project (MHEC) was developed to provide 24-hour access to mental health specialists in rural and remote New South Wales using video conferencing equipment.
An evaluation of the service activity of MHEC using a concurrent mixed methods approach.
Use of the service increased from a low base to around 60 video assessments per month at the end of the study period. Use of video assessments was greatest in the remote zone (30.7 video assessments/10,000 population/year). The number of people referred to a mental health inpatient unit declined (50 fewer patients, representing a decrease from 73% to 52% of all admissions between 2008 and 2009). Both patients and providers found the service helpful. Most patients (81%) stated that they would recommend or use the service again.
This service is well positioned to have an increasing effect on emergency nursing and patient outcomes, as well as potentially on transportations. Continued use of MHEC suggests that video conference technology is acceptable and offers responsive specialist emergency mental health care to rural and remote communities.
心理健康是澳大利亚的一项国家优先事项，在该国农村和偏远地区，获得专科护理的机会最差，需求也最大。心理健康紧急护理——农村接入项目（MHEC）旨在利用视频会议设备，为新南威尔士州农村和偏远地区提供24小时心理健康专家服务。
采用同步混合方法对MHEC的服务活动进行评估。
在研究期结束时，该服务的使用量从较低基数增加到每月约60次视频评估。远程区域的视频评估使用量最大（30.7次视频评估/每10000人口/年）。转介至心理健康住院病房的人数有所下降（减少了50名患者，占2008年至2009年所有住院人数的比例从73%降至52%）。患者和服务提供者都认为该服务很有帮助。大多数患者（81%）表示他们会再次推荐或使用该服务。
这项服务对急诊护理和患者预后有越来越大的影响，对交通也可能有影响。持续使用MHEC表明，视频会议技术是可以接受的，并且能为农村和偏远社区提供及时的专科紧急心理健康护理。
