Setting benchmarks and determining psychiatric workloads in community mental health programs

Administrators and clinicians must find ways to effectively and efficiently use psychiatric resources without compromising the quality of care. The author outlines a model for setting benchmarks for allocating psychiatrists' time in a community mental health service setting. After the percentage of time for direct-care activities is agreed on (for example, 60 percent), the amounts of time necessary for three direct-care clinical activities-assessment of new patients, follow-up of stable patients, and follow-up of unstable patients and emergencies--are established. Time for documentation should be included in each task. At the end of six months, workloads are evaluated, and benchmarks are reset as appropriate.