Samhandling og kvalitet i praksis. En studie av samhandling om brukere med omfattende rus og psykisk lidelse

Abstract

Background: The Cooperation reform describes the major challenges for patients with long-term and chronic illnesses, including drug addiction and mental illness. The special field is characterized by failure in the treatment process and the transition between services is perceived problematic. These challenges are also the basis of the project from a western situated local authority and the local health authorities. The aim of the project was increased cooperation between local authorities and health authorities for people with serious mental illness and drug addiction, and that each user would experience comprehensive and better quality of health services. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether participants experience that the project strengthens the interaction between the local authority and health authority and provide users a better quality of services. Method: The study is a case study. The collection of data is done through qualitative interviews with participants of the project, three employees and four employees of project and supplemented information, given by the steering committee for the project. The data is analyzed qualitatively. Results: The study shows that the informants experienced increased cooperation and improved quality for the users who participated. They experienced improvement in communication and clarification of expectations and task distribution between local authorities and health authorities at the individual level. Some examples are better diagnosis and improved treatment. In addition, study shows challenges that not were solved, among other things treatment of crisis and developing patient pathways. New procedures were not worked out, and significant improvement in the interaction at the system level was not achieved. The results of the project were not implemented in ordinary running. Conclusions: Closer cooperation between local authorities and health authorities gave positive effects of communication and interaction for the individual users. The project also revealed challenges in collaboration, especially at the system level.