IMPARTS

IMPARTS logoIntegrating Mental & Physical healthcare: Research, Training & Services (IMPARTS) was an initiative funded by King’s Health Partners to integrate mental and physical healthcare in research, training and clinical services at Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital, and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.

IMPARTS was developed to improve the support available for patients experiencing psychological distress such as anxiety, low mood or depression, while receiving treatment for a physical health condition.

To continue the IMPARTS legacy we have produced the digital book below which highlights the key findings of the study and outlines what is going to happen next. 

IMPARTS Digital Book Front Cover

How did the programme work?

Patients attending King’s Health Partners acute Trusts were asked to answer a series of questions about their health using a tablet-based screening platform, or via a link sent to their smart phone, before their appointment. The questions related to their wellbeing, smoking, depression and anxiety symptoms, along with others tailored to the patient group.   

The results were added to the patient’s electronic health record and clinicians were able to use the data to guide the patient’s consultation and treatment plan. The data also helped clinicians to refer patients to other relevant services, where appropriate.

In the video below, Fiona Squire, a limb reconstruction patient, describes how the King's Health Partners IMPARTS service helped her recover mentally and physically after her limb reconstruction at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az0N1ffvvTQ

Reasons why using IMPARTS in clinics was beneficial:

  1. Evidence shows that by joining up physical and mental healthcare, it’s possible to help someone manage their different conditions, improve their health outcomes, and even prevent unnecessary health problems for some people by identifying risk early.
  2. Using IMPARTS helps tailor patient consultations, by equipping clinicians with the full picture of a patient’s mental and physical health.
  3. Training provided for all staff using the IMPARTS package covers key principles and skills for addressing common mental health needs. Clinical teams could also request additional training, including bespoke ways to address the specific needs of their patient population.
  4. IMPARTS data is available for research and clinical service audit purposes. For more information, please see our research page at King’s College London.

You can find out more about the benefits of IMPARTS on the IMPARTS microsite.