LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
  Policy 302.03 Coordination of Care
 
Policy Category:  Clinical
Distribution Level:  Directly Operated and Contractors
Review and Approved by:  Quality Assurance
 
Approved by Curley L. Bonds, MD, Chief Medical Officer, on December 30, 2021
I.  POLICY STATEMENTS
 
This policy ensures timely coordination of care for clients served in Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH/Department) directly operated programs and contracted agencies.

Contracted agencies shall develop an internal policy and associated procedures that are consistent with their organizational practices and meet the requirements set forth in this policy.
 
II.  DEFINITIONS
 
On-going Treatment: Services to address a client's mental health needs that go beyond one-time assessment and/or crisis intervention. Services include psychotherapy, rehabilitation, medication support, and targeted case management.

Primary Contact: An individual practitioner assigned to a client at a provider and designated for care coordination.

Treatment Team: Practitioners assigned to clients to provide services, coordinate services, and monitor the health and well-being of the clients.
 
III.  POLICY
 
All clients receiving ongoing treatment shall have an identified primary contact and be provided information on how to contact that individual.

Each member of the client's treatment team is responsible for coordinating services within his/her respective area of expertise. Services to be coordinated include but are not limited to the following:
  • Services from other settings of care such as inpatient or residential services;
  • Services the client receives from other mental health or medical providers; and
  • Services the client receives from community and social support providers.
Coordinated services include:
  • Contacting other involved current service providers during the initial stages of treatment and periodically thereafter as clinically appropriate;
  • Contacting previous providers for relevant clinical information as clinically appropriate;
  • Sharing results of any assessment or evaluation of client needs with other currently involved service providers to prevent duplication of those activities; and
  • Sharing progress notes and other documentation in the clinical record pertinent to the client's treatment with other currently involved service providers.
Coordination of services must be in accordance with all applicable laws and Departmental policies to ensure the privacy of clients.
 
IV.  PROCEDURES
 
Procedures Coordination of Care
 
V.  AUTHORITY
 
VI.  ATTACHMENT
 
There are no attachments associated with this policy.