Guiding safer, smoother care transitions for ACT clients
Official title: Improving Guidance For Care Transitions For Clients Of Assertive Community Treatment (act) And Flexible Act
Funded at New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · NIH-11452540 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher is testing how to reduce hospitalizations after people leave Assertive Community Treatment by identifying which factors predict risk and by understanding how stepdown care affects outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $195,804 |
| NIH project number | 1K08MH142767-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11452540 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults and youths who are enrolled in ACT programs and approaching discharge or stepdown decisions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not currently in ACT or those not nearing discharge may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at people leaving ACT programs to see who is at higher risk of needing psychiatric hospitalization within a year. It will examine whether introducing a lighter level of care (care stepdown) after discharge changes that risk. Researchers will also survey ACT teams to map differences in discharge practices and link these to patient outcomes. The study aims to provide clearer guidance for when and how to reduce service intensity without losing continuity of care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help ACT teams discharge patients more safely and efficiently, potentially reducing unnecessary stays and improving access to care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous ACT research supports the idea that discharge planning and tiered care can influence outcomes, but this project tests specific predictors and practices in real-world settings.
Where this research is happening
-
New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gao, Yihe Nina — New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
- Study coordinator: Gao, Yihe Nina
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.