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For any patient being managed by more than one service provider, a joint management agreement is essential
	Ideally, this agreement should be based on a case conference where the patient's problems and needs can be considered within that individual's context and preferences, and matched with available treatments, professionals, services and resources.
	The patient's consent to the plan and to participation in the collaborative care relationship should be obtained by each of the service providers.
Typical components of a coordinated care agreement between a general practitioner and an area mental health service for a patient with chronic psychosis: Names of and methods to contact general practitioner, responsible psychiatrist, case manager, others involved, emergency outreach team Protocol for antipsychotic treatment: whether managed by general practitioner or psychiatrist, reviewed at what frequency, symptoms and side effects targeted Rehabilitation needs: from what provider, at what level Basic living needs: plans for accommodation, finances, safety (usually via case manager) Frequency of monitoring by case manager Date for review of plan (e.g., six months later) Plan for crisis management: who is called; protocol involving general practitioner, case manager, crisis outreach team.

On to Assessing anxiety and depression in primary care . . .