Challenge
Without access to a psychiatrist, a rural hospital struggled to provide timely crisis management and disposition decisions for patients in the emergency department (ED). The negative impacts included:
- Delays in treatment and psychological stress for patients
- Unnecessarily long ED boarding times and reduced bed turnover
- Added strain on staff and fewer resources for other patients
- Slower discharges to home or next site of care
Solution
The hospital partnered with AmplifyMD for TelePsychiatry services to support the ED. With the addition of TelePsychiatry services, the hospital’s ED staff has been able to provide more timely interventions for patients who present in the ED with symptoms of a psychiatric episode, addiction, or suicidal ideation. Patients are receiving appropriate care faster, and key metrics have improved.
