1. The Management of Children and Youth With Pediatric Mental and Behavioral Health Emergencies.
- Author
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Saidinejad M, Duffy S, Wallin D, Hoffmann JA, Joseph M, Schieferle Uhlenbrock J, Brown K, Waseem M, Snow SK, Andrew M, Kuo AA, Sulton C, Chun T, Lee LK, Conners GP, Callahan J, Gross T, Joseph M, Lee L, Mack E, Marin J, Mazor S, Paul R, Timm N, Dietrich AM, Alade KH, Amato CS, Atanelov Z, Auerbach M, Barata IA, Benjamin LS, Berg KT, Brown K, Chang C, Chow J, Chumpitazi CE, Claudius IA, Easter J, Foster A, Fox SM, Gausche-Hill M, Gerardi MJ, Goodloe JM, Heniff M, Homme JJL, Ishimine PT, John SD, Joseph MM, Lam SH, Lawson SL, Lee MO, Li J, Lin SD, Martini DI, Mellick LB, Mendez D, Petrack EM, Rice L, Rose EA, Ruttan T, Saidinejad M, Santillanes G, Simpson JN, Sivasankar SM, Slubowski D, Sorrentino A, Stoner MJ, Sulton CD, Valente JH, Vora S, Wall JJ, Wallin D, Walls TA, Waseem M, Woolridge DP, Brandt C, Kult KM, Milici JJ, Nelson NA, Redlo MA, Curtis Cooper MR, Redlo M, Kult K, Logee K, Bryant DE, Cooper MC, and Cline K
- Subjects
- Humans, Male, Female, Child, Adolescent, Emergency Medical Services, Health Personnel, Mental Health Services, Mental Disorders therapy, Emergencies, Child Behavior Disorders therapy
- Abstract
Mental and behavioral health (MBH) emergencies in children and youth continue to increasingly affect not only the emergency department (ED), but the entire spectrum of emergency medical services for children, from prehospital services to the community. Inadequate community and institutional infrastructure to care for children and youth with MBH conditions makes the ED an essential part of the health care safety net for these patients. As a result, an increasing number of children and youth are referred to the ED for evaluation of a broad spectrum of MBH emergencies, from depression and suicidality to disruptive and aggressive behavior. However, challenges in providing optimal care to these patients include lack of personnel, capacity, and infrastructure, challenges with timely access to a mental health professional, the nature of a busy ED environment, and paucity of outpatient post-ED discharge resources. These factors contribute to prolonged ED stays and boarding, which negatively affects patient care and ED operations. Strategies to improve care for MBH emergencies, including systems level coordination of care, is therefore essential. The goal of this policy statement and its companion technical report is to highlight strategies, resources, and recommendations for improving emergency care delivery for pediatric MBH., (Copyright © 2023 American College of Emergency Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2023
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