Clinical Information
Mental Health Outcomes and Assessment Tools (MH-OAT) | NSW State Plan ReportingMental Health Outcomes and Assessment Tools (MH-OAT)
MH-OAT for Adult and Older Person consumers | MH-OAT copyright notices.
The Mental Health Outcomes and Assessment Tools (MH-OAT) is a state-wide initiative that aims to improve the quality and outcomes of mental health care in NSW. The initiative consists of two major components:
(a) Standardised clinical documentation
(b) Standardised outcome measures
The standardised clinical documentation is a NSW Health initiative designed to support the recording, retrieval and sharing of clinical information at different points in the cycle of mental health care (triage, assessment, care planning, review and transfer/discharge). The use of the modules is mandated across the range of public mental health settings (Policy Directive PD2010_018)
The standardised outcome measures are a nationally mandated initiative under the Second National Mental Health Plan and are designed to support the assessment, monitoring and review of mental health care (Policy Directive PD2006_041).
The values guiding the development and implementation of the initiative are consistent with those stated in the Charter for Mental Health Care in NSW- 'to improve the mental health of consumers'.
The aim of the initiative is to enhance the quality of clinical information available to inform mental health care by:
- Introducing uniform clinical information collection protocols;
- Implementing standard clinical documentation (clinical modules) designed to support the recording and retrieval of information at different points in the cycle of mental health care; and.
- Implementing the routine collection of outcomes and casemix measures.
As a result of the initiative, clinicians have a standard way of recording the way they work with consumers and carers. This will help mental health services work more efficiently and effectively and ensure NSW meets the National Standards of Mental Health Care. The availability of standardised clinical information facilitates communication within and between mental health services and also enables the use of such information for service development, improvement and evaluation activities.
NSW State Plan Reporting
The State Plan: A New Direction for NSW, released in November 2006, sets out the priorities for Government action over the 10 years to 2016.
The Plan includes 34 priorities and 60 targets designed to deliver better services and improve accountability across the public sector.
MHDAO is responsible for leading the implementation of mental health and drug and alcohol priorities which include:
- Priority F3: Improved outcomes in mental health
- Priority S3: Improved health through reduced illicit drug use and risk drinking
Progress towards meeting these priorities is measured against the following State Plan targets:
- Priority F3(a-c): Improved outcomes in mental health
- F3(a): Reduce readmissions within 28 days to any facility
- F3(b): Increase the percentage of people with a mental illness aged 15-64 who are employed to 34% by 2016
- F3(c): Increase the community participation rates of people with a mental illness by 40% by 2016
- Priority S3(a and c): Improved health through reduced risk drinking and illicit drug use
- S3(a): Reduce total risk drinking to below 25 per cent by 2012
- S3(c): Hold illicit drug use in NSW below 15 per cent
MHDAO reports quarterly on progress towards the State Plan targets, through the NSW State Plan.