Community File Follow Up

1. When a patient is discharged, follow up can be arranged from a relevant local clinic. However if you wish to review the patient in one to two weeks‘ time a patient can also be discharged where they can be reviewed as per a clinic setting in their subsequent visits to the ward. A clinic file should be maintained in the ward or Community Centre issued from the Community Mental Health Unit with a unique community file number for such patients.

2. This system is a very useful and innovative method to ensure compliance in patients and reduction of cost by prevention of admissions.

3. As per the Directive of the Drugs and Therapeutics Committee oral medication can be issued up to one month using the community file number.

4. Depot injections of Fluphenazine Decanoate, Flupenthixol Deconate and Zuclopenthixol Decanoate can be issued to CPN Drug Book for the Community File Number.

5. The Issuing of the Unique Community File Number will be done by the Inquiries Office through a

Central Community File Registration Book.

6. The File number should follow the current pattern which consists of letters indicating the Consultant, a serial number and the year of registration.

7. If a client is discharged the Community File must be sent to the Record Room for safe keeping as per routine protocols followed for BHTs.

8. The Community Mental Health File should be used with due diligence just as a BHT/ Clinic File as it may be used in all internal and external legal proceedings if needed.

9. The Community Mental Health Files that are used for follow up of patients immediately after discharge where the patient visits NIMH for scheduled reviews must be kept in the Acute Psychiatric

Wards under the responsibility of the Nurse/Sister in charge.

10. Community Mental Health Files that are used for Community based management through domiciliary visits must be kept at the Community Mental Health Unit under the responsibility of the relevant CPN.

11. Drug supply issued from a Community File which is usually restricted to a maximum of two weeks can be increased to a period of one month when issued on the recommendation of a Consultant

Psychiatrist. This is based on the letter No DGHS/NIMH/2017-115 dated 18.01.2017 issued by the office of the DGHS.

12. When issuing drugs for a period of 1/12 for a patient through a community file a note must be of the recommendation to do so by the Consultant in the Community File at the initial issuing. When prescribing for one month, the seal of the Consultant must be placed on the prescription to indicate recommendation of the Consultant. The prescription can be signed by any Medical officer of the

Consultant‘s team.