Modelling toolkit to assist with introducing a stepped care system design in mental health care

Modelling toolkit to assist with introducing a stepped care system design in mental health care

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Article ID: iaor20133687
Volume: 64
Issue: 7
Start Page Number: 1049
End Page Number: 1059
Publication Date: Jul 2013
Journal: Journal of the Operational Research Society
Authors: , , , , ,
Keywords: modelling, UK, mental health
Abstract:

We describe a modelling toolkit that was developed with the aim of assisting those responsible for introducing stepped care systems to local mental health services in the UK. The toolkit was pre‐populated with real patient flow data collected from four sites that piloted the stepped care system design. Two analytical models were developed and coded as part of the toolkit to provide insights concerning workload, patient throughput, and changes in waiting times and waiting list size. An interface was built to allow users to specify their own stepped care system and input their own estimates or data of service demands and capacities at different steps. Despite the challenges and limitations, the use of modelling to inform the design of new service configurations is an important step in the right direction and we would recommend this as a reasonable way forward.

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