Posted on: April 5, 2023
On January 31, 2024 crucial changes are coming to the forms used in British Columbia to involuntarily admit and treat patients under the Mental Health Act. To ensure patients’ rights are protected and the forms are completed correctly, all staff and physicians who are involved in regularly treating and caring for patients under the Mental Health Act have to complete an online training module before November 30, 2023.
Under the Mental Health Act, Royal Jubilee, Victoria General, Queen Alexandra, Lady Minto, Cowichan District, Nanaimo, West Coast, Comox Valley, Campbell River and Port McNeill hospitals, along with Seven Oaks and Cowichan Lodge, are designated facilities where people can be involuntarily admitted for psychiatric observation, treatment and care.
The Ministry of Health is introducing new medical certificates (Form 4) which must be used to involuntarily admit people with severe and persistent mental or psychiatric disorders who are in a need for treatment under the Mental Health Act (MHA). More than 'just another form', these legally required documents are key to protecting patients, care providers and health care organizations.
The new medical certificates (Form 4.1 & Form 4.2) mean significant practice changes with the involuntary admission process. The most significant changes to the medical certificate include:
- The form has been divided into two forms. Form 4.1 is the first medical certificate and Form 4.2 is the second medical certificate
- Both forms require review and signature from an MHA director delegate
- Form 4.1 has a field to record the date and time of the involuntary admission
- Form 4.1 can be completed by nurse practitioners.
The education phase of the implementation period of these new forms and processes begins April 5, 2023. Physicians, clinical operations and medical leaders, unit managers, coordinators, clinical nurse leads, educators, nurses and support staff who regularly support involuntary psychiatric admissions and/or care and treatment are required to take the MHA education online training module through the Learning Hub.
The updated MHA education online module provides information for completing Forms 4.1 and Form 4.2 as well as what it means to be an MHA director delegate.
While it may seem early for training on the new forms, we all know how quickly time goes by, and to ensure the new forms are in place and being used by January 31, 2024, Island Health's education phase of the form implementation ends November 30, 2023.
The mandatory education is supported by Medical Affairs, Advanced Practice Nursing, Clinical Learning and Knowledge Services (CLKS) and sponsored by Professional Practice and Risk Management.
Clinical Operations Leads at each of the designated facilities are responsible for ensuring applicable staff have taken the training. Leaders receive information showing who has taken the required online module.
If you believe you need to take the online module and have not been approached to do so, please talk to your manager. The freshly updated MHA education online module is available through the Learning Hub (Learning Hub course #11716)
Additionally, Mental Health Act practice support tools for medical certificates are available through the Mental Health Act intranet site.