Transfer completion rates and treatment modality

Client transfers were examined within the context of a large, urban community mental health center. Transfer completion rates were computed on a quarterly basis for a large number of clients over a period of nearly two years. It was found that in a typical quarter about one client out of every seven had a transfer initiated and there was an average of 1.4 transfers per client. On the whole, nearly seven out of every ten transfers initiated were completed. Transfer completion rates among the emergency services, inpatient units, partial care services, and outpatient units were determined. It was concluded that modality and proximity play significant roles in transfer completion rates.