title: Emergency department mental health triage consultancy service: a qualitative evaluation.
abstract: This study evaluated staff perception of a three-month clinical trial of an emergency mental health triage and consultancy service. Eleven night duty emergency department (ED) staff were interviewed on the last night of the trial. Data was analysed according to the standards of qualitative research and through content analysis major themes were identified. Staff-perceived value of the emergency mental health triage and consultancy service to the emergency department was identified under three major themes: "enhancing the quality of service for people requiring psychiatric/psychosocial intervention", "the impact on the ED environment" and "providing education and support". The findings of this study show that ED staff perceived that the emergency mental health triage and consultancy service made a valuable contribution to the overall functioning of the ED. The findings also highlight the advanced practice role undertaken by mental health nurses in the ED.
authors.affiliation: Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA, Australia. d.wynaden@curtin.edu.au
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wynaden
authors.forename: Rose
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McGowan
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McDonough
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hood
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019091:Critical Pathways; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000592:standards*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014218:Triage / Q000592:standards*; D014904:Western Australia