Psychiatric crisis intervention in the general emergency service of a Veterans Affairs hospital.
An after-hours crisis intervention program staffed by psychiatric residents between 5 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on weekdays was developed in the general emergency room at a Veterans Affairs hospital to reduce inpatient psychiatric admissions. The program offered medication, family interventions, and referrals to outpatient services. In the programs's first year, inpatient admissions during the hours covered by the program decreased by 34 percent, for a net savings of nearly $400,000 in inpatient treatment costs.
Lambert
M
M
Psychiatry Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75216, USA.
D015897:Comorbidity; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009551:Night Care; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013781:Texas; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D000078329:Workforce