Using the Alberta Continuity of Services Observer-Rated Scale to Measure Continuity of Care in a Psychiatric Population.

Background and Purpose: Continuity of care (CoC) is an important component in the delivery of quality mental health care. Yet, its measurement is inconsistent. We explored the use of the Alberta Continuity of Services Scale for Mental Health (ACSS-MH) observer-rated scale and compared CoC scores in 2 groups (N = 140) of individuals with mental health complaints (51 and 1 emergency department [ED] visits/year). Methods: Secondary analysis of health record data. Results: The application of the ACSS-MH observer-rated scale in our population is discussed, as well as differences in CoC scores by group. Conclusions: The ACSS-MH observer-rated scale may be useful for obtaining CoC scores in several mental health populations. Minor modifications (e.g., to response options) are suggested that may improve scoring accuracy. Research is needed to further explore the relationship between CoC and ED use.