This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Anglicare Victoria Inreach Integrated Model of Care in enhancing collaboration between mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) services. It focuses on improving patient outcomes during and after inpatient psychiatric admissions, examining referral patterns, engagement and readmission rates.
A retrospective exploration of clinical and quality assurance data was conducted, analysing 571 referrals made from inpatient psychiatric units (IPUs) to the Anglicare Victoria Inreach service between July 2020 and December 2023. Quantitative data sets such as demographics, engagement rates and 28-day readmission rates were reviewed. A t-test was used to assess differences in 28-day readmission rates between consumers who did and did not receive Anglicare Inreach services.
Of the 7,130 IPU admissions, 8% were referred to the Anglicare Victoria Inreach service, with 93% of consumers engaging in post-discharge support. The 28-day readmission rate for those who received Anglicare Inreach services was higher (M = 20.4%) than those who did not (M = 15.1%), though this difference did not reach a level of statistical significance (p = 0.051). Alcohol and methamphetamine were the most prevalent substances of concern, while mood disorders were the most common mental health diagnoses of Anglicare consumers.
This study offers valuable insights into the functioning of an integrated care model bridging mental health and AOD services. Although high engagement rates were observed, the elevated readmission rates highlight the need for further research to assess the long-term effectiveness of such integrated models in addressing co-occurring mental health and substance use issues.
