Quality improvement project: enhancing treatment plan documentation to improve continuity of care in a secure residential treatment facility

This quality improvement project (QI project) was implemented at a secure residential treatment facility (SRTF) for adults with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) to improve treatment plan documentation supporting third party medical necessity determinations. The intervention consisted of a brief, structured training paired with a practical documentation checklist provided to clinicians responsible for treatment plan creation and maintenance. Findings suggest that targeted education and structured tools reduce documentation ambiguity and may support clearer communication of medical necessity to external reviewers. This QI project informs future efforts to standardize documentation practices in psychiatric residential settings to improve continuity of patient care.