Psychiatric Emergency Services in the Rural Community Hospital: An Evaluation of Psychiatric Services in the Randolph Hospital Emergency Department
- 1. Department of Psychology, The University of North Carolina, USA
Abstract
This project evaluates the impact of having a psychiatrist present in the emergency
department (ED) of a rural hospital that lacks a psychiatric unit. Using a mixed-method
approach, a team of researchers examined hospital census data and surveyed the ED
staff. The results suggest that having a psychiatrist present increased the length of stay
in the ED, slightly increased the number of involuntary commitments, slightly increased
the number of repeat visits, decreased transfer to private psychiatric hospitals, did
not dramatically affect the number of options for care, but appreciably enhanced
the ability of the ED physicians to see patients other than those with psychiatric needs.
Results of a staff survey indicated that having on site psychiatric services was beneficial
to efficiency and quality of care. Further inquiry is needed to fully understand the
impact of psychiatric services in rural EDs.