Comparison of two models for delivery of services in psychiatric emergencies.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the benefits of the psychiatric emergency service (PES) model, in comparison to the model of the psychiatric consultant to the emergency department (the consultation model).


METHODS
A retrospective chart review of 100 involuntary PES patients and 100 involuntary patients of the consultation model were matched for age, sex, ethnicity and primary diagnosis. Baseline characteristics, demographics and various outcomes of the two groups were compared.


RESULTS
After establishment of the psychiatric emergency service, there were improvements in the following categories: (1) timely rendering of psychiatric emergency care (330 vs. 639 min, P<.01), (2) completion of mental status exam (95% vs. 49%, P<.01), (3) pregnancy testing (73% vs. 52%, P<.05), (4) safety in the form of seclusion (6% vs. 15%, P<.05) and elopement (5% vs. 13%, P<.05). There were no statistical significant differences in urine toxicology ordered, follow-up care provided and readmission rate after 30 days.


CONCLUSIONS
The PES is a multidisciplinary system that can be beneficial to psychiatric emergency patients by providing timely rendering of care, improving access to care, and ensuring safety and better assessment.
Woo
Benjamin K P
BK
Psychiatry Residency Program, Department of Psychiatry, UCLA-Kern Medical Center, Bakersfield, CA 93305, USA. bkpwoo@gmail.com
Chan
Virginia T
VT
Ghobrial
Nazem
N
Sevilla
Conrado C
CC
D000328:Adult; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017146:Models, Organizational; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States