S53.03 - Integrating emergency care, crisis intervention and acute treatment at the general hospital: Efficiency and costs

Abstract

Backgrounds and Aims:

We assessed the efficiency and costs of an innovative emergency service focusing on specialized evaluation and intensive treatment for the new acute mental patient.

Methods:

A computerized register provided continuous evaluation of the impact of the new unit on the global patient flows in a 500.000 inhabitants catchment area during 5 years. Furthermore, we carefully assessed the all population treated at the emergency room and the subpopulation population assigned to crisis intervention at the General hospital at emergency room discharge during 2-months. The efficiency and costs were investigated with: a) pre-post analyses (global flows), b)assessing the reliability of decision processes according to pre-established decision guidelines.

Results:

Well integrated, diagnostic assessment, acute treatment and crisis intervention for the new acute mental appeared to dramatically improve the efficiency of a large system of community psychiatry services.

Comment:

The study suggests that the emergency treatment of the new acute mental patient deserves more study.