1. PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
Blas Meza
Director - Emergency Department
University Medical Center of El Paso
January 27, 2016

2. Historical
June 13, 2012 The Emergency Department (ED) is experiencing an increase in the number of psychiatric patients seen at University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC) with no clear identified source or agency. This increase is having a negative impact in ED throughput…

3. Historical Data
Increase noted in 2011
Surge noted in 2012

5. CHIEF COMPLAINTS Top 5 Chief Complaints in this group in 2015
Psych Eval 38
EDO 53
Evaluation 59
Medical clearance 60
Suicidal 64

6. TRANSFERS TO PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES

7. TOTAL HOURS INVOLVED

8. AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY
October 2010 – Entered limited service contract with Texas Tech Department of Psychiatry for ED services

9. POSSIBLE CAUSES Increase in patient population?
Increase in military related PTSD?
Increase in substance abuse
Spice
Amphetamines
Ecstasy
Opiates
Effect of ACA?
Age group 19 to 25
Noted a slight decrease in overall ED usage by 0.5%
Significant increase ED visits by 2.6% (Ann of Emerg Med. 2015;p1-7)

10. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE
Increase area resources
Increased community resources
Education and prevention
Insurance providers to include mental health svcs
Clinics and providers
Mental health unit in jails
Homeless services
Increased ED services in community that include psychiatric services
Increased inpatient psychiatric beds
Collaboration is key, but more resources are vital

11. QUESTIONS

13. EL PASO EMS TRANSPORTS
Note: EPFD EMS transports involve medical/surgical complaints such as none compliance with medications, GSW, OD, self inflicted injuries, etc.