Ring up and care: Experience from clinician initiated telephonic follow-up for older persons with mental illness

BACKGROUND: Tele-psychiatry has grown exponentially during COVID-19 pandemic. As regular out-patient services were shutdown, we initiated a telephonic follow up consultation from Geriatric Mental Health department, for patients who had their first face to face consultation up-to 2 months prior to pandemic induced lock down with the intent to maintain the continuity of care. METHODS: In this background we are reporting our experience of this unique initiative, in terms of acceptance of service, status of patients, compliance and barriers to care. The data is reviewed and reported descriptively after obtaining the Institutional Ethic Committee approval. RESULTS: A total of 179 patients (N=179) were rung up and 120 could be contacted, among which 8 patients had deceased at the time of call. Hundred and eight patients (108) consented for tele-follow up consultation, whose mean age was 68.76±7.22 years. Majority of patients (74.07%) were still symptomatic at the time of follow-up call and expressed their felt need for psychiatric care which was unmet. Forty patients (39.22%) had stopped prescribed medicines. Unavailability of consultation as well as psychotropic medicines in the locality were the major reasons for poor compliance. Sixteen patients (14.8.1%) required urgent referral to the nearby district mental health service. CONCLUSION: Clinician initiated telephonic follow-up was well received. This initiative has uncovered hurdles to care and unmet needs of patients of geriatric psychiatry in such unprecedented situation and would help in improving the preparedness.