Developing an Interprofessional Community Psychiatry Rotation Using an Assertive Community Treatment Team Model: A...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Medical Education
• Community Mental Health

Background:

• Shortage of psychiatric providers in community settings for serious mental illness (SMI).
• Need for specialized training in community-based psychiatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an innovative psychiatry rotation and curriculum for learners.
• To improve learners' confidence and skills in treating SMI in the community.
• To assess the effectiveness of an interprofessional (IP) team model in community psychiatry.

Main Methods:

• Pilot quality improvement project evaluating a new psychiatry rotation.
• Utilized standard evaluation forms for residents and post-rotation debriefings for all participants.
• Incorporated Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team collaboration, home visits, and assertive outreach.

Main Results:

• Rotation improved residents' confidence in understanding SMI, social determinants, and community resources.
• Enhanced residents' skills in collaborative work with individuals with SMI, IP teams, and those with substance use disorders.
• Learners and IP staff highly rated the rotation during debriefing sessions.

Conclusions:

• The rotation was well-received by learners and interprofessional staff.
• The interprofessional team model rotation increased resident confidence in community psychiatry.
• Provides a valuable training opportunity for working with marginalized populations with SMI and comorbidities.