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Patient safety depends on coordinating care

Survey results reflect decreased compliance with recommended standards in 2024

Each year, Magellan conducts the behavioral health patient safety survey with our network providers. If you completed our patient safety survey in 2024, thank you for participating, and most importantly for ensuring your clinical practices promote patient safety!

We distribute the survey to inpatient and residential facilities, and psychiatrists practicing in groups or in individual practice. The survey asks questions about activities and monitoring processes related to behavioral health safety measures, including coordination and transition of care, and medication management.

• Communication across the continuum of care, and especially at times of transition:
  • Coordination of care between behavioral health providers.
  • Coordination of care between behavioral health providers and primary care providers (PCPs).
• Medication management and medication reconciliation including:
  • The use of second-generation antipsychotics per APA guidelines.
  • The use of anti-craving medications to support abstinence.
  • Performing weight/waist circumference/lab tests at start of medication, as a repeat measure, and assessing for movement side effects using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS).

The overall response rate in 2024 (9.7%) remains steady compared to the 2023 response rate (9.7%), although still represents a decline from the previous year’s rate: 2022 (14.4%).

 One measure reflected improvement in 2024 (Measure: Send information about medication to other treating providers). Of the ten measures, five met goal; four decreased from the previous two years; the other five indicate marked decreases. 

What you can do:

• Ask patients to authorize communication with their PCP to improve coordination of care.
• Communicate with treating providers and/or PCPs, via email, phone, fax, or mail. See our sample Clinician Communication Form (PDF).
• Discuss any adverse medication reactions with the patient’s PCP.
• Educate patients and family members, as appropriate, about benefits, risks, and side effects of medications.
• Prescribe anti-craving medication to support abstinence.
• Share discharge summaries with patients, other behavioral health providers and the patient’s PCP to improve coordination of care.
• Perform weight/waist circumference/lab tests at the start of medication, as a repeat measure, and assess for movement side-effects using the AIMS.

Magellan continues to evaluate patient safety best practices and support providers by reporting insights from these surveys that can aid in improving member care. 

We appreciate your responses and assistance with our quality improvement activities.

Please contact Bonita Anderson, senior director of quality, at AndersonB2@MagellanHealth.com with questions or feedback.