Abstract
When psychiatric hospitalization is over-used, it represents a financial drain and failure of care. We evaluated implementation and cessation of transporting people medically certified for psychiatric hospitalization to a central psychiatric emergency service for management and re-evaluation of hospitalization need. After implementation, the hospitalization rate declined 89 % for 346 transported patients; only four of the nonhospitalized patients presented in crisis again in the next 30 days. Following cessation, the hospitalization rate jumped 59 % compared to the preceding year. Costs declined 78.7 % per diverted patient. The findings indicate that it is possible to reduce hospitalization and costs, and maintain quality care.
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Conflict of interest
This study was funded in part by the Lyckai-Young funds from the State of Michigan, Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority, and Gateway Community Health.
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Amirsadri, A., Mischel, E., Haddad, L. et al. Intervention to Reduce Inpatient Psychiatric Admission in a Metropolitan City. Community Ment Health J 51, 185–189 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-014-9735-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-014-9735-6