Research: Topics: Health Care

A Strategic Plan for Documenting Mental Health in New York State

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Table of Contents

• Why it's important to document mental health
  • A word on language
  • A word on confidentiality
• Developing a documentation plan
  • Purpose of the plan
  • Who is the plan for
  • Scope of the plan
  • Defining criteria and priorities for mental health documentation
• Summary of mental health documentation priorities and goals
• Priority descriptions and potential records
  • Document the experiences of people who receive mental health services.
  • Document the experiences of family members and others close to people with psychiatric histories.
  • Document the functions and services of mental health support and advocacy organizations and consumer/survivor/ex-patient groups
  • Document significant approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders.
  • Document the mental health and related services provided by institutions, organizations, and individuals and the training and personal experiences of service providers.
  • Document the policies and legislation that have defined, influenced, and funded mental health services.
  • Document societal attitudes toward mental health issues and people with psychiatric histories
• Actions to improve mental health documentation
• Next steps