A Virtual Inpatient Psychiatry Unit in a Multicampus Health Care System During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT

A virtual, telehealth-based inpatient psychiatric unit was implemented in a multicampus health care system to care for patients involuntarily admitted under emergency hold laws who tested positive for COVID-19. Through a multidisciplinary approach, these patients received proper general medical and psychiatric treatments. This column describes the development and operationalization of the unit in terms of team structure, patient referral and admission, patient and staff safety, general medical and psychiatric treatments, and discharge planning. The results of this virtual approach to caring for patients with both COVID-19 and acute mental illness illustrate the potential of a multidimensional approach for improving care efficiency during public health emergencies.