Outcomes of Victorian Prevention and Recovery Care Services (PARCS): A matched pairs comparison

Objective
In Victoria, Prevention and Recovery Care Services (PARCS) have been established to provide a partial alternative to inpatient admissions through short-term residential mental health care in the community. This study set out to determine whether PARCS are achieving their objectives in relation to reducing service use and costs, fostering least restrictive care and leading to positive clinical outcomes.
Methods
We matched 621 consumers whose index admission in 2014 was to a PARC (“PARCS consumers”) with 621 similar consumers whose index admission in the same year was to an acute inpatient unit and who had no PARC stays for the study period (“inpatient-only consumers”). We used routinely collected data to compare them on a range of outcomes.
Results
PARCS consumers made less subsequent use of acute inpatient services and, on balance, incurred costs that were similar to or lower than inpatient-only consumers. They were also less likely to spend time on an involuntary treatment order following their index admission. PARCS consumers also experienced positive clinical outcomes over the course of their index admission, but the magnitude of this improvement was not as great as for inpatient-only consumers. This type of clinical improvement is important for PARCS, but they may place greater emphasis on personal recovery as an outcome.
Conclusion
PARCS can provide an alternative, less restrictive care option for eligible consumers who might otherwise be admitted to an acute inpatient unit, and do so at no greater cost.