Spanish experts consensus on emergency psychiatric care in hospital emergency departments.

BACKGROUND: The demand for urgent psychiatric care is increasing, but in Spain there are no clear recommendations for emergency departments (ED) on how to optimize care for patients with psychiatric emergencies. We aimed to provide expert consensus recommendations on the requirements for general hospitals´ emergency departments to treat patients with urgent psychiatric symptoms. METHODS: We used a modified Delphi technique. A scientific committee compiled 36 statements based on literature search and clinical experience. The statements covered the organizational model, facilities, staffing, safety, patient interventions, and staff training. A panel of 38 psychiatry specialists with expertise in psychiatric emergencies evaluated the questionnaire in two rounds. RESULTS: After two rounds of voting, 30 out of 36 proposed items (83%) were agreed upon. The panel agreed that psychiatric emergencies should be managed in a general hospital, with dedicated facilities for patient assessment, direct supervision of patients at risk, and an observation unit run by the psychiatric service. In addition to the psychiatrist, the ED should have specialist nurses and security staff available 24/7. Social workers should also be readily available. ED and consulting rooms should be designed to ensure patient and staff safety. A triage system should be established for patients with psychiatric symptoms, with medical evaluation preceding psychiatric evaluation. Guidance on supplies, equipment, and staff training is also provided. CONCLUSION: All ED in general hospitals should have adequate resources to handle any psychiatric emergency. This paper provides recommendations on the minimum requirements to achieve this goal.

Concepções dos enfermeiros frente à utilização de protocolos de urgência psiquiátrica no atendimento pré-hospitalar móvel / Nurses' conceptions regarding to the use of psychiatric emergency protocols in mobile pre-hospital care / Concepciones de las enfermeras sobre el uso de protocolos de emergencia psiquiátrica en la atención prehospitalaria móvil

Objetivo: conhecer as concepções do enfermeiro frente à utilização de protocolos de urgência psiquiátrica no atendimento préhospitalar móvel. Métodos: estudo qualitativo, descritivo exploratório, com enfermeiros do Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista semiestruturada e submetidos à análise de conteúdo. Resultados: foram elencadas duas categorias: Protocolos de atendimento de urgência psiquiátrica e seu emprego no serviço de atendimento pré-hospitalar; e Fatores que influenciam o atendimento de urgência e emergência psiquiátrica. Os protocolos se direcionam contra os preceitos da reforma psiquiátrica e colocam sua aplicabilidade como fator de interferência no manejo da pessoa em crise, dando continuidade à ação ideológica social da contenção física. Considerações finais: o estudo mostrou o contexto da prática dos enfermeiros nas urgências psiquiátricas e evidenciou que os enfermeiros do Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência não estão devidamente instrumentalizados para atuarem nas urgências/emergências psiquiátricas.

Objective: to ascertain nurses' conceptions regarding the use of psychiatric emergency protocols in mobile pre-hospital care. Methods: in this qualitative, descriptive exploratory study of nurses in a Mobile Emergency Care Service, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and submitted to content analysis. Results: two categories were listed: Psychiatric emergency care protocols and their use in the pre-hospital care service; and Factors that influence emergency care and psychiatric emergency. The protocols are at odds with the tenets of psychiatric reform and frame its applicability as a factor that interferes with management of persons in crisis, thus serving to perpetuate the ideological social action of physical restraint. Final considerations: the study showed the context of nurses' practice in psychiatric emergencies and showed that nurses of the Mobile Emergency Care Service are not properly equipped to work in psychiatric emergencies.

Objetivo: conocer las concepciones de las enfermeras sobre el uso de protocolos de emergencia psiquiátrica en la atención prehospitalaria móvil. Métodos: en este estudio cualitativo, descriptivo, exploratorio de enfermeras en un Servicio Móvil de Atención de Emergencias, los datos fueron recolectados a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas y sometidos a análisis de contenido. Resultados: se enumeraron dos categorías: protocolos de atención de urgencias psiquiátricas y su uso en el servicio de atención prehospitalaria; y Factores que influyen en la atención de emergencia y la emergencia psiquiátrica. Los protocolos están en desacuerdo con los principios de la reforma psiquiátrica y enmarcan su aplicabilidad como un factor que interfiere con el manejo de las personas en crisis, sirviendo así para perpetuar la acción social ideológica de la restricción física. Consideraciones finales: el estudio mostró el contexto de la práctica de las enfermeras en emergencias psiquiátricas y mostró que las enfermeras del Servicio Móvil de Atención de Emergencias no están debidamente equipadas para trabajar en emergencias psiquiátricas.

Mental health first aid: strengthening its impact for aid recipients.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a potentially valuable first response in mental healthcare. MHFA is formulated as an extension of Psychological First Aid, the latter being a more focal response to crises and disasters. MHFA is a broader strategy which aims to improve the general public's immediate response to mental ill health and mental health crisis. While its effect on those trained in MHFA has been promising, recent meta-analyses have failed to detect any significant benefit to individuals who receive support from an MHFA trainee. Such outcomes highlight the need to revisit the content and implementation of MHFA to optimise and realise the full potential of the concept. Possible solutions are discussed, including developing new MHFA content using methodologies that foster innovation and creativity, in addition to improving the quality and effectiveness of MHFA training.

Mobile care service for psychiatric urgencies and emergencies: perception of nursing workers.

OBJECTIVE: To understand how the nursing staff perceives the care provided to people in situations of psychiatric urgencies and emergencies in the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU - Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência). METHOD: Descriptive and qualitative study conducted in the Northeast region of Brazil with 34 of the SAMU nursing workers. Data were obtained by semi-structured interviews and processed by the Thematic Analysis. RESULTS: The analysis of interviews allowed the identification of three categories: mechanical practice, need for qualification and (de)humanization of care. The results showed that the care offered to users in psychiatric urgency or emergency situations is based on mechanistic and specific actions. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: Nursing workers perceive that the care for people in situations of psychiatric urgency and emergency in SAMU is mainly based on physical and chemical containment measures, performing a little resolute and dehumanized care and raising the need for professional qualification.

Use of Computer Modeling to Streamline Care in a Psychiatric Emergency Room: A Case Report.

Computer simulation using JaamSim tested the impact of changing the number of providers, proportion of independent to supervised providers, shift provider added, time to hospitalization, and the number of beds in order to identify bottlenecks in a psychiatric emergency department. Adding an independent provider from 4 p.m. to midnight produced the largest improvements: reductions in time to bed, time to provider, and length of stay by 82%, 68%, and 31%, respectively. Decreasing time to hospitalization and adding beds achieved modest improvements. Modeling allows simulated changes to one parameter at a time and provides bespoke analysis for a variety of clinical settings.

Mobile care service for psychiatric urgencies and emergencies: perception of nursing workers / Atención móvil de urgencias y emergencias psiquiátricas: percepción de los trabajadores de enfermería / Atendimento móvel às urgências e emergências psiquiátricas: percepção de trabalhadores de enfermagem

ABSTRACT Objective: To understand how the nursing staff perceives the care provided to people in situations of psychiatric urgencies and emergencies in the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU - Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência). Method: Descriptive and qualitative study conducted in the Northeast region of Brazil with 34 of the SAMU nursing workers. Data were obtained by semi-structured interviews and processed by the Thematic Analysis. Results: The analysis of interviews allowed the identification of three categories: mechanical practice, need for qualification and (de)humanization of care. The results showed that the care offered to users in psychiatric urgency or emergency situations is based on mechanistic and specific actions. Final considerations: Nursing workers perceive that the care for people in situations of psychiatric urgency and emergency in SAMU is mainly based on physical and chemical containment measures, performing a little resolute and dehumanized care and raising the need for professional qualification.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Comprender cómo los trabajadores de enfermería perciben la atención ofertada a personas en situaciones de urgencias y emergencias psiquiátricas en el Servicio de Atención Móvil de Emergencia (SAMU). Método: Estudio descriptivo, de tipo cualitativo, realizado en la región Noreste de Brasil con 34 trabajadores de enfermería del SAMU. Los datos se obtuvieron por medio de entrevista semiestructurada, y se los aplicaron un Análisis Temático. Resultados: El análisis de las entrevistas permitió identificar tres categorías: la práctica mecanicista, la necesidad de calificación y la (des)humanización de la atención. Fue posible identificar que la atención ofertada a los usuarios en situaciones de urgencia o de emergencia psiquiátrica se basa en acciones mecanicistas y puntuales. Consideraciones finales: Los trabajadores de enfermería perciben que la atención ofertada por SAMU a personas en urgencia y emergencia psiquiátrica se basa principalmente en medidas de contención física y química, lo que resulta en una atención poco determinante y deshumanizada, además de apuntar para la necesidad de calificación profesional.

RESUMO Objetivo: Compreender como os trabalhadores de enfermagem percebem o cuidado às pessoas em situações de urgências e emergências psiquiátricas no Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência (SAMU). Método: Estudo descritivo, de natureza qualitativa, realizado no Nordeste do Brasil com 34 trabalhadores de enfermagem do SAMU. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevista semiestruturada e tratados pela Análise Temática. Resultados: A análise das entrevistas permitiu a identificação de três categorias: prática mecanicista, necessidade de qualificação e (des)humanização da assistência. Foi possível identificar que o cuidado ofertado aos usuários em situação de urgência ou emergência psiquiátrica é baseado em ações mecanicistas e pontuais. Considerações finais: Os trabalhadores de enfermagem percebem que o cuidado às pessoas em situações de urgências e emergências psiquiátricas no SAMU é baseado principalmente em medidas de contenção física e química, tornando a assistência pouco resolutiva e desumanizada e suscitando a necessidade de qualificação profissional.

Emergency psychiatric services in Roozbeh Hospital: A qualitative study of the staff's experiences.

PURPOSE: This study aims to explore how psychiatric residents and nurses experience the conditions of psychiatric emergency services. DESIGN AND METHODS: This qualitative study was carried out using content analysis. Data were collected through unstructured interviews conducted during three focus groups. FINDINGS: The results of the focus groups were classified into the following five categories of issues influencing the staff's experiences: repetitive problems, long wait times, ambiguity, insecurity, and stability. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Improving the staff's communication skills and educating them on how to manage violence, establishing a well-functional system of triage, and optimizing bed management and discharge planning are among several potential strategies that might be considered to improve the quality of care in psychiatric emergency services.

Suicide Risk Assessment and Management in the Psychiatry Emergency Service: Psychiatric Provider Experience and Perceptions.

The objective of this study was to explore suicide risk identification and flow of patients with differing suicide risk through the Psychiatric Emergency Service (PES) to their clinical dispositions. 3 focus groups (N = 15 psychiatric providers working in the PES of a large urban teaching hospital) discussing suicide risk assessment in the PES were conducted, followed by thematic analysis. A total of 7 themes were identified in 624 coded passages. In focus groups conducted to explore suicide risk assessment, discussions shifted to broader matters, e.g., frustrations with the system in which the providers worked. 4 main messages emerged: screening tools cannot replace clinical judgment; the existing electronic health record is not efficient and sufficiently informative; competing demands challenge PES psychiatrists; and post-discharge patient outcome data are needed. These concerns suggest directions for improving patient care.

Implementing and Evaluating a Standard of Care for Clinical Evaluations in Emergency Psychiatry.

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric presentations are common in emergency departments (EDs), but the standard of care for treatment remains poorly defined. We introduced standards for emergency psychiatric evaluations that included obtaining collateral information, writing a safety plan for discharging patients, identifying the next best provider, and alerting that provider to the patient's visit. OBJECTIVE: We sought to demonstrate the feasibility and clinical impact of implementing standards for emergency psychiatric evaluations. METHODS: To evaluate feasibility, physicians attested to completion in the electronic health record. To evaluate the effect on clinical outcomes, we compared admission rates, 30-day return rates, and median length of stay from a 4-month pre-implementation period to a 4-month post-implementation period. Data were extracted from a quality-improvement database. RESULTS: There were 1896 patient encounters in the pre-implementation period and 1937 encounters post-implementation. Pre-and post-cohorts were similar demographically. Collateral was obtained for 1035 (86%) encounters, a written safety plan was completed for 793 (77%) eligible patients, the next-best provider was identified for 1094 (91%), and that provider was contacted for 837 (70%). There was no difference from pre to post periods in admission rates (17% vs. 18%; p = 0.36), median length of stay (13.3 ± 0.6 vs. 12.5 ± 1.4; p = 0.35), or 30-day return rates (15% vs. 16%; p = 0.66). CONCLUSIONS: This standard work for emergency psychiatric evaluations was feasible even in a highly acute patient population. However, the benefits of this intervention are less clear. We question the utility of prevailing metrics in emergency psychiatry.

Does the U Stand for Useless? The Urine Drug Screen and Emergency Department Psychiatric Patients.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral emergencies account for a significant portion of emergency department (ED) visits in the United States. Substance abuse is common in this population and may precipitate or exacerbate preexisting psychiatric illness. Contrary to ED policy guidelines, many behavior health centers (BH) require a urine drug screen (UDS) in stable patients prior to transfer. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the role of the UDS in ED length of stay (LOS), cost, and charges to patients and inpatient psychiatric care. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients transferred to an in-network BH from September 1-30, 2014. Clinical data were extracted and analyzed from our electronic medical record, including records from both the ED visit and the BH stay. RESULTS: There were 205 patient encounters identified; 89 patients had a UDS performed in the ED and 89% were obtained after the ED medical clearance. LOS were similar between the two groups, however, time to ED departure from time of medical clearance was delayed in the UDS group. BH providers mentioned UDS results < 25% of the time and no confirmatory tests were performed. There was no difference in BH LOS or discharge diagnosis of substance-abuse disorder. Patient charges for UDS over the month totaled $21,093. CONCLUSION: The UDS did not seem to have any significant effect on inpatient psychiatric care; whereas ED LOS and cost were both negatively affected. Based on these results, the UDS seems to be of little-to-no benefit in the setting of acute psychiatric illness.

Improving suicide risk assessment in the emergency department through physician education and a suicide risk assessment prompt.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of two interventions on suicide risk assessment within emergency departments (EDs) on improving the documentation of suicide risk factors by emergency medicine and psychiatric physicians during suicide risk assessment. METHOD: An educational intervention on suicide was provided to all emergency medicine and psychiatry physicians and was followed by the placement of a suicide risk assessment prompt within local EDs. The medical charts of all ED patients presenting with suicidal ideation or behaviours were reviewed immediately and six months after the interventions and compared to pre-intervention. Differences in the documentation of 40 biopsychosocial suicide risk factors between specialties and after the interventions were determined. RESULTS: The documentation of 34/40 (p ≤ 0.008) and 33/40 (p ≤ 0.009) suicide risk factors was significantly improved by emergency medicine and psychiatry physicians, respectively, after the interventions and maintained six months later. Immediately and six months after the interventions, the documentation of 8/40 (p ≤ 0.041) and 14/40 (p ≤ 0.048) suicide risk factors, respectively, significantly differed between specialties. CONCLUSION: This suggests that providing a brief educational intervention on suicide to emergency medicine and psychiatry physicians followed by placing a prompt for important, yet commonly undocumented risk factors within the ED is a low-cost and effective intervention for improving documentation of suicide risk assessments within the ED.

Service Models for Urgent and Emergency Psychiatric Care: An Overview.

There is variation in the way mental health services respond to urgent and emergency presentations, with few evidence-based models reported in the literature, and no agreed on best practice models. To inform the development of urgent and emergency psychiatric care models, a literature review was performed. The review sought to identify strengths and critiques of varying models, evidence gaps, and areas for future research. After review, significant variation was found in the design and scope of urgent and emergency care models. Most models are either community or hospital based, with few integrated models that span community and hospital care. The development of integrated models has the potential to reduce service duplication and support a shift toward provision of least restrictive care. The overall evidence base of urgent and emergency care models is limited, with few studies in the area, and there is a need for further research. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 56(8), 23-30.].

Emergency Department Medical Clearance of Patients with Psychiatric or Behavioral Emergencies, Part 1.

Patients presenting to the emergency department with mental illness or behavioral complaints merit workup for underlying physical conditions that can trigger, mimic, or worsen psychiatric symptoms. However, interdisciplinary consensus on medical clearance is lacking, leading to wide variations in quality of care and, quite often, poor medical care. Psychiatry and emergency medicine specialty guidelines support a tailored, customized approach. This article summarizes best-practice approaches to the medical clearance of patients with psychiatric illness, tips on history taking, system reviews, clinical or physical examination, and common pitfalls in the medical clearance process.

Assessing Suicide Risk: What is Commonly Missed in the Emergency Room?

OBJECTIVE: Although risk assessment for suicide has been extensively studied, it is still an inexact process. The current study determined how busy emergency clinicians actually assessed and documented suicide risk, while also examining the differences between psychiatric and emergency medicine opinions on the importance of various suicide predictors. METHOD: Phase 1 of the study involved the administration of a survey on the relative importance of various suicide predictors for the specialties of psychiatry and emergency medicine. In phase 2 of the study, a chart review of psychiatric emergency room patients was conducted to determine the actual documentation rates of the suicide predictors. RESULTS: Several predictors that were deemed to be important, including suicidal plan, intent for suicide, having means available for suicide, and practicing suicide (taking different steps leading up to suicide but not actually attempting suicide), had low documentation rates. CONCLUSIONS: Medical specialties have different opinions on the importance of various suicide predictors. Also, some predictors deemed important had low documentation rates. Educational interventions and simple assessment tools may help to increase documentation rates of several suicide predictors in busy clinical settings.

The Impact of Increasing Staff Resources on Patient Flow in a Psychiatric Emergency Service.

OBJECTIVE: The study illustrates the use of approaches based on queuing theory to understand bottlenecks in patient flow. A queuing simulation was used to predict the potential benefits of additional clinical personnel on patient flow through a psychiatric emergency service (PES). METHODS: A discrete-event simulation model was calibrated on the basis of two months of data collected in a PES. This model examined the effects of adding between .5 (half-time) and three additional providers to the 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. shift. RESULTS: The model showed that an addition of a half-time clinician produced the biggest change in patient flow metrics. Average length of stay was predicted to drop from 38.1 hours to 33.2 hours for patients who were awaiting hospitalization and from 13.7 to 9.0 hours for patients who were eventually discharged. The number of patients waiting to see a provider decreased by two-thirds between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., and it decreased by one-half during the rest of the day, even though the number of clinical staff remained the same. Adding more providers failed to reduce these numbers much further. Adding more than a half-time provider also failed to significantly reduce boarding (remaining in the PES while awaiting hospitalization). CONCLUSIONS: Queuing simulation predicted a dramatic benefit to patient flow with a fairly small addition in clinician time, a benefit that persisted beyond the time during which the additional staff was on duty, especially when this staff was added during a period of high demand.

The Impact of Mental Health Services in a Pediatric Emergency Department: The Implications of Having Trained Psychiatric Professionals.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed improvement in the emergency department (ED) length of stay and costs after implementation of an ED program which added board-certified psychiatrists and trained psychiatric social workers to the pediatric ED. METHODS: A retrospective medical record and administrative data review were conducted for all pediatric psychiatric visits of children aged 5 to 18 years who were seen and discharged from the Greenville Memorial Hospital ED between January 1, 2007, and June 31, 2013. These subjects were diagnosed by the ED physician at the time of the visit using codes ranging from 290.0 to 319.0 based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Ninth Revision codes. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of children in the postprogram period (14.3 ± 3.1) was younger than during the preprogram period (14.9 ± 3.1) (P < 0.001) with the greatest increase in the 11- to 15-year age group (42% vs 35%, respectively). Patients in the postprogram period were significantly more likely to be discharged to a psychiatric hospital than during the pre-program period (18% vs 9%, respectively). After the initiation of the program, ED length of stay decreased significantly from 14.7 to 12.1 hours (P < 0.001) and costs per visit decreased slightly from US $602 to US $588 (this difference was not statistically significant). CONCLUSIONS: Although this model of care has significant costs associated with it, the efficiency of care for psychiatric pediatric patients in the ED improved after targeted training of ED staff and provision of these specialized services within the ED.

Resident Workflow and Psychiatric Emergency Consultation: Identifying Factors for Quality Improvement in a Training Environment.

OBJECTIVE: Quality improvement to optimize workflow has the potential to mitigate resident burnout and enhance patient care. This study applied mixed methods to identify factors that enhance or impede workflow for residents performing emergency psychiatric consultations. METHODS: The study population consisted of all psychiatry program residents (55 eligible, 42 participating) at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles. The authors developed a survey through iterative piloting, surveyed all residents, and then conducted a focus group. The survey included elements hypothesized to enhance or impede workflow, and measures pertaining to self-rated efficiency and stress. Distributional and bivariate analyses were performed. Survey findings were clarified in focus group discussion. RESULTS: This study identified several factors subjectively associated with enhanced or impeded workflow, including difficulty with documentation, the value of personal organization systems, and struggles to communicate with patients' families. CONCLUSION: Implications for resident education are discussed.