Objective: Many models of community-based mental health crisis teams have been reported. We present our experience of an outreach team made up of a paramedic and mental health nurse.
Methods: A proof-of-concept was conducted in Western Sydney. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients where the team were able to facilitate the most appropriate care.
Results: Nearly 70% of patients were able to be treated outside the Emergency Department, with about two-thirds being transported directly to a mental health facility.
Conclusion: We have demonstrated that our model of care is successful in enabling appropriate physical and mental health care for patients suffering an acute mental health crisis.
Keywords: ambulance; community care; mental health; multi-disciplinary teams.