Patient safety survey reflects need for greater care coordination among providers

Ways YOU can promote patient safety in 2023

Each year, Magellan conducts the behavioral health patient safety survey with our network providers. If you completed our patient safety survey in 2022, thank you for participating, and most importantly for ensuring your clinical practices promote patient safety!

We distribute the survey to inpatient and residential facilities, and psychiatrists practicing in groups or in individual practice. The survey asks questions about activities and monitoring processes that relate to behavioral health safety measures, including coordination and transition of care, as well as medication management.

 

  • Communication across the continuum of care and especially at times of transition.
    • Coordination of care between behavioral health providers.
    • Coordination of care between behavioral health providers and PCPs.
  • Medication management and medication reconciliation including:
    • The use of second-generation antipsychotics per APA guidelines.
    • The use of anti-craving medications to support abstinence.
    • Performing weight/waist circumference/lab tests at start of medication, as a repeat measure, and assessing for movement side effects using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS).

The overall survey response rate in 2022 (14.4%) remained about the same as the 2021 rate (14.7%) but was lower than the response rate in 2020 (16.8%).

Key Survey Items

2022

2021

2020

Percentage of Positive Responses: (Always or Often)

Bold=improved from 2021 to 2022

Contact patient’s primary care provider (PCP) to share information about the case

47.1%

43.1%

55%

Discuss history of adverse medication reactions with PCP

49.1%

51%

58.8%

Provide discharge instructions or treatment summary to patient

77.3%

74.3%

83.6%

Send discharge summary and labs to PCP

59.7%

55.4%

64.6%

Assess medication compliance at each visit

88.5%

87.7%

98.4%

Develop a plan if history of medication non-compliance is noted

90.2%

89.8%

95.6%

Prescribe anti-craving medication to support abstinence

65.6%

70.2%

70.9%

Send information about medication to other treating providers

83.2%

78.1%

89.3%

Perform weight/waist circumference/lab tests at start of medication

77.6%

76.5%

89.1%
While progress is noted in most of the measures for 2022, it is still not at pre-COVID levels. The new challenges of virtual visits, limited staffing and closed offices require each provider and facility to develop new ways to promote patient safety. Here are a few suggestions based on the survey results. 

  • Communicate with treating providers and/or PCPs, via email, phone, fax or mail. See our sample Clinician Communication Form (PDF).
  • Educate patients and family members as appropriate about benefits, risks and side effects of medications.
  • Prescribe anti-craving medication to support abstinence.
  • Share discharge summaries with patients, other behavioral health providers and the patient’s PCP to improve coordination of care.
  • Perform weight/waist circumference/lab tests at the start of medication, as a repeat measure, and assess for movement side-effects using the AIMS. 

Magellan continues to evaluate patient safety best practices and support providers by reporting insights from these surveys that can aid in improving member care. Watch for the 2023 Patient Safety Survey coming your way in the fall.

We appreciate your responses and assistance with our quality improvement activities. Please contact Bonita Anderson, senior director of quality, at AndersonB2@MagellanHealth.com with questions or feedback.