The pace of patient processing in the mental health system

In consultation to some mental health agencies, we have found the pace and quality of patient processing to be needlessly labored, discontinuous, and often redundant. Processing is too often "for the record" rather than "for the client." Information rarely flows comprehensively, comprehensibly, or continuously between the evaluating system and the system from which the client is sent or to which he is referred. Contributing factors are identified and analyzed; the processing system is demystified. A change in strategy is suggested.