Piloting Case Conferencing Between GPs and Mental Health Services: Phase II of the Northern Queensland Rural Division of General Practice Mental Health Program

Abstract

Phase two of the Northern Queensland Rural Division of General Practice Mental Health program involved the piloting of case conferencing between General Practitioners (GPs) and mental health professionals in three rural communities. The initial findings suggest that this model supports GPs by increasing their confidence in the management of patients with whom they find it most challenging to work. Mental health professionals indicate that the opportunity to consult with GPs on a regular basis is important to their clinical work, and see the primary focus of these consultations as a means for communicating with GPs. The case conferencing also led to modest improvements in relationships between GPs and mental health service providers.