From today's edition of The Chronicle Herald:
By John Gillis, Health Reporter
The longer a person’s initial stay in hospital for schizophrenia, the less likely they are to be readmitted, says a new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
The report found 38 per cent of people hospitalized for schizophrenia are readmitted to hospital within a year.
That figure shows a majority of people with the illness actually fare well outside hospital, said Stephen Ayer, executive director of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia.
"The amazing part, quite frankly, for me is that 62 per cent are not (readmitted)," he said. "When you have a first episode of schizophrenia or psychosis, it’s very, very scary."
Mr. Ayer said the report does not examine what care patients are getting while in hospital and what supports are available to them in the community.
Those people who were in hospital between a week and two weeks were 21 per cent less likely to be readmitted unexpectedly within 30 days than those whose initial stay was a week or less, the report says.
It notes the average length of hospital stays has been declining.
A week in hospital would be considered quite a short stay for someone admitted with schizophrenia, said Dr. Ian Slayter, clinical director for general psychiatric services for the Capital district health authority.
He said an admitted person would often be psychotic and needs time to stabilize.
"Someone who is (in) three or four weeks, they can often be helped to settle down and one can arrange things in the community."
Dr. Slayer said the length of stay for people hospitalized for schizophrenia in the Capital district averaged 28 to 30 days.
A person returning to hospital shouldn’t be assumed to be a bad thing, he said.
"Obviously, if they’re having problems, readmission is a good and necessary thing."
The services available to people after discharge include community mental health clinics and clubhouses, an assertive community treatment team, private psychiatrists and general practitioners.
Dr. Slayter said Capital Health also offers supportive services to check in with people in their homes and do things like drop off medication.
"That’s an area that we’re actively growing."
He said people who are hospitalized for very long periods are also likely to be readmitted due to instability.
Capital Health has recently changed the way it compiles statistics, so local readmission rates are unavailable.
Also see:
Schizophrenia patients with short hospital stays soon readmitted: report
Statement: The Schizophrenia Society of Ontario Supports CIHI's Findings on the Relationship Between Hospital Length of Stay and Readmission for Individuals with Schizophrenia
Short hospital stays failing schizophrenic patients
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