Resource

To help close these gaps that put individuals at increased risk for suicide after a psychiatric hospitalization, the Action Alliance (Care Transitions Advisory Group) developed Best Practices in Care Transitions for Individuals with Suicide Risk: Inpatient Care to Outpatient Care. Released in 2019, with the support of Universal Health Services (UHS) Behavioral Health Services, the report describes evidence-based practices for improving clinical care and outcomes for people with a history of suicide risk during the critical period of transition from inpatient to outpatient care.

The Best Practices in Care Transitions report:

• Discusses the transition from behavioral health hospitalization to outpatient care as a unique phase in care.
• Presents evidence-based practices that have been shown to improve safety and continuity of care for patients during this transition.
• Provides recommendations specific to both inpatient and outpatient organizations and providers.

To facilitate the adoption of the report's findings, the Action Alliance also developed the following:

• Two-page executive summary, which provides an overview of the Best Practices in Care Transitions.
• A care transitions video, which highlights the importance of implementing best practices during this critical period of transition for individuals with suicide risk and a few strategies that inpatient and outpatient settings can adopt.
• An infographic to illustrate key points. 
• An outpatient care self-assessment and action planning template.
• An inpatient health care self-assessment and inpatient action planning template.