Research and consultations with physicians (particularly community pediatricians) throughout BC in 2015-2017 suggested that experiences for mental health patients do not meet the needs of patients or the physicians. The consultations were a key part of the project, Transitioning Patients from Community Pediatricians into Adult Care, funded by Specialist Services Committee (SSC) and hosted by the BC Pediatric Society.
Discussion in the BCPS province-wide consultations consistently raised physician needs to access and understand services for patients with mental health disorders, e.g. how the services work, criteria for the services, gaps, access issues – and frustration when barriers are encountered.
This 2018-2019 project aims to address such challenges by developing theoretical “pathways to care” for mainly complex patients with mental health diagnoses who are commonly managed by community pediatricians, and by reviewing those pathways with practitioners.