The effect of referral procedures on aftercare compliance

A study of four referral procedures involving 400 patients discharged consecutively from a geographically distant state hospital and referred to a community mental health center for aftercare suggests that simple changes in hospital discharge systems can increase compliance of patients and reduce recidivism. The scheduling of a specific follow-up appointment for the patient increased aftercare compliance significantly. Compliance was further increased, and the recidivism rate was cut in half, when the patient was seen by the community mental health aftercare nurse before discharge and was also given a specific follow-up appointment with that nurse.