Psychiatric services in rural areas require
transportation as a point of psychiatric services provision and enables access
to patients who need psychiatric services. There are several risk involved in
the transportation of people who are in need of mental health services in the
rural areas, so in planning for their transportation, appropriate consideration
and collaboration is required to ensure that the situation of for
transportation is as safe as possible to all concerned.
transportation as a point of psychiatric services provision and enables access
to patients who need psychiatric services. There are several risk involved in
the transportation of people who are in need of mental health services in the
rural areas, so in planning for their transportation, appropriate consideration
and collaboration is required to ensure that the situation of for
transportation is as safe as possible to all concerned.
In the transportation of psychiatric patient in the
rural area, their rights to safe transportation must be respected to reduce
encroachment of their rights, self-respect and dignity, and must be carried out
in a way that to minimize situations that can portray their transportation as a
traumatic experience.
rural area, their rights to safe transportation must be respected to reduce
encroachment of their rights, self-respect and dignity, and must be carried out
in a way that to minimize situations that can portray their transportation as a
traumatic experience.
In respecting their right to safe transportation,
appropriate risk management and safety of all involved must be balanced. In
case of restriction of rights of anyone involved, reasonability and
proportionality must be balanced.
appropriate risk management and safety of all involved must be balanced. In
case of restriction of rights of anyone involved, reasonability and
proportionality must be balanced.
Whenever possible and clinically and legally
appropriate, psychiatric care seekers can be encouraged to make their own
decisions and make their transport arrangement.
appropriate, psychiatric care seekers can be encouraged to make their own
decisions and make their transport arrangement.
As a necessity, the choice of transportation used
will be greatly affected by the psychiatric patient’s legal status as
highlighted in Mental Health Act of 1986. For instance, the use of emergency
ambulance is a necessity for patients who are involuntary and require sedation or
restraint
will be greatly affected by the psychiatric patient’s legal status as
highlighted in Mental Health Act of 1986. For instance, the use of emergency
ambulance is a necessity for patients who are involuntary and require sedation or
restraint
Factors to be considered in choosing means of
transportation in psychiatric services in rural areas
transportation in psychiatric services in rural areas
In choosing the means of transportation that is
most suited for patients, psychiatric health care givers must consider the
following:
most suited for patients, psychiatric health care givers must consider the
following:
·
The distance to be travelled
The distance to be travelled
·
The patient’s need for clinical support, supervision
and sedation during the period of travel
The patient’s need for clinical support, supervision
and sedation during the period of travel
·
The available modes of transport
The available modes of transport
·
The patient’s legal status
The patient’s legal status
·
The risk of harm the patient poses to themselves and
others
The risk of harm the patient poses to themselves and
others
·
The likely effect on the patient of the proposed mode
of transport
The likely effect on the patient of the proposed mode
of transport
·
Information from other service providers, family or
carers
Information from other service providers, family or
carers
·
The availability of appropriately trained staff for
assessment and escorting
The availability of appropriately trained staff for
assessment and escorting
·
Whether there has been any reference to transport preferences
as part of a consumer’s advance statement.
Whether there has been any reference to transport preferences
as part of a consumer’s advance statement.
·
Current and past mental health history and presentation
Current and past mental health history and presentation
·
The patient’s physical health
The patient’s physical health
·
The patient’s immediate treatment needs
The patient’s immediate treatment needs
Means of transportation available for psychiatric
services in rural areas
services in rural areas
There are several means of transportation available
to psychiatric services in the rural areas, but in choosing any of these, the
principle of least restrictive and risk management must be considered to ensure
that that safety and clinical care needs are adequately matched.
to psychiatric services in the rural areas, but in choosing any of these, the
principle of least restrictive and risk management must be considered to ensure
that that safety and clinical care needs are adequately matched.
But as a necessity, the Mental Health Act of 1986
specified that an emergency ambulance must be used for patients who are involuntary
and require sedation or restraint.
specified that an emergency ambulance must be used for patients who are involuntary
and require sedation or restraint.
