Community Psychiatry in the Team of Brandoa - Services Provided in December 2008

• Main Authors: Alexandre Mendes, Alexandra Morais, Diana Melo, Raquel Bandeira, Sara Gaião, João Parente, Pilar Santos Pinto, Teresa Maia, Graça Cardoso
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hospital Prof. Doutor Fernando Fonseca 2012-06-01
• Series: PsiLogos
• Subjects: Integrated model; Continuity of Care; Community Team; Mental Health; Articulation
• Online Access: http://www.psilogos.com/Revista/Vol10N1/Indice12_ficheiros/Mendes,Morais,Melo%20et%20al_p59-76.pdf

The Psychiatric Department of the Hospital Fernando Fonseca (HFF) was the first service in Portugal based on the general hospital to develop an integrated model of mental health care in the community, oriented towards the needs of the population and supported by multidisciplinary teams. This model is based on continuity of care by the same team, assertive follow-up of patients in the community, in conjunction with primary health care and a wide range of interventions. The activity of the Service occurs at both hospital and community levels, maintaining a close articulation between the different units that constitute it, to ensure the necessary continuity of care. The Community Teams of Amadora, Brandoa, Damaia and Queluz constitute the Functional Community Intervention Unit and are based in the Health Centers of the area where they operate. This work aims to characterize the active population followed by the Brandoa Community Team in December 2008, at socio-demographic and clinical levels and from the data obtained to do a brief reflection in order to question the activities undertaken and to improve care practices in the future.