[Implementation of Continuity of Care in Everyday Care - A Comparison Between two Psychiatric Hospitals]

The rigid separation of outpatient and inpatient care in the German health care system prevents continuity of care, although it has been shown to be of great importance for psychiatric patients. This study analyzes continuity of care of a model hospital with a global treatment budget according to § 64b SGB V and constant treatment staff across all settings in comparison to a control hospital with regular financing without such a team.

In a prospective cohort study with a 20-month observation period, we collected data on continuity of care of 220 model and 215 control clinic patients.

The model clinic achieved significant higher continuity of care than the control clinic, both during inpatient treatment at the time of recruitment and across all settings during the observation period.

A global treatment budget can create the necessary conditions for more flexible psychiatric care and better implementation of continuity of care.