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Published Online: 20 January 2021

American Association for Emergency Psychiatry Recommendations to Address Psychiatric Staff Shortages in Emergency Settings

Abstract

Objective:

The psychological sequelae of the COVID-19 crisis will increase demands for psychiatric care in already strained emergency and mental health systems. To address the shortage of psychiatrists (and nurse practitioners and physician assistants) in emergency settings (ESs), the American Association for Emergency Psychiatry (AAEP) has established recommendations for utilizing nonprescribing mental health professionals in the evaluation and management of psychiatric patients in these contexts.

Methods:

Faced with limited research on the roles and competencies of nonprescribing psychiatric emergency clinicians (PECs), a multidisciplinary committee of members of AAEP was tasked with developing recommendations for use of PECs.

Results:

The committee developed eight recommendations regarding the role of PECs in evaluation and management of patients who present to ESs with behavioral emergencies. PECs should have the following competencies: conducting independent psychiatric and substance abuse evaluations; managing behavioral emergencies; aiding in the recognition of confounding medical illnesses, intoxication and withdrawal states, and adverse drug reactions; developing appropriate treatment plans; recognizing when consultation from a psychiatrist or emergency physician is indicated; possessing self-awareness and recognizing clinician-patient dynamics; understanding medicolegal issues, such as involuntary holds and decision-making capacity; and collaborating with clinical teams in ESs. PECs are not meant to replace psychiatrists but to extend the psychiatrist’s reach. Use of PECs has already been implemented in some areas of the country.

Conclusions:

On the basis of the AAEP recommendations, ESs can address staffing shortages while ensuring safe management of patients with behavioral emergencies. With appropriate orientation and training, the PEC can serve effectively and competently in an ES.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Psychiatric Services
Go to Psychiatric Services
Psychiatric Services
Pages: 437 - 443
PubMed: 33467869

History

Received: 15 October 2019
Revision received: 20 May 2020
Revision received: 19 July 2020
Accepted: 30 July 2020
Published online: 20 January 2021
Published in print: April 01, 2021

Keywords

  1. Emergency psychiatry
  2. Staff relationships/roles

Authors

Details

Janet S. Richmond, L.I.C.S.W. [email protected]
Department of Psychiatry, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Boston Health Care System Jamaica Plain Campus, and Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston (Richmond); Department of Psychiatry, Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center, New Hampton, New York (Dragatsi); Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City (Dragatsi); Department of Emergency Medicine, West Virginia University Health System, Morgantown (Stiebel); resolve Crisis Services of UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, Pittsburgh (Rozel); Department of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, and Department of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Rasimas).
Dianna Dragatsi, M.D.
Department of Psychiatry, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Boston Health Care System Jamaica Plain Campus, and Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston (Richmond); Department of Psychiatry, Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center, New Hampton, New York (Dragatsi); Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City (Dragatsi); Department of Emergency Medicine, West Virginia University Health System, Morgantown (Stiebel); resolve Crisis Services of UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, Pittsburgh (Rozel); Department of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, and Department of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Rasimas).
Victor Stiebel, M.D.
Department of Psychiatry, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Boston Health Care System Jamaica Plain Campus, and Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston (Richmond); Department of Psychiatry, Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center, New Hampton, New York (Dragatsi); Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City (Dragatsi); Department of Emergency Medicine, West Virginia University Health System, Morgantown (Stiebel); resolve Crisis Services of UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, Pittsburgh (Rozel); Department of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, and Department of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Rasimas).
John Samuel Rozel, M.D.
Department of Psychiatry, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Boston Health Care System Jamaica Plain Campus, and Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston (Richmond); Department of Psychiatry, Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center, New Hampton, New York (Dragatsi); Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City (Dragatsi); Department of Emergency Medicine, West Virginia University Health System, Morgantown (Stiebel); resolve Crisis Services of UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, Pittsburgh (Rozel); Department of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, and Department of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Rasimas).
Joseph J. Rasimas, M.D., Ph.D
Department of Psychiatry, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Boston Health Care System Jamaica Plain Campus, and Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston (Richmond); Department of Psychiatry, Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center, New Hampton, New York (Dragatsi); Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City (Dragatsi); Department of Emergency Medicine, West Virginia University Health System, Morgantown (Stiebel); resolve Crisis Services of UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, Pittsburgh (Rozel); Department of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, and Department of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Rasimas).

Notes

Send correspondence to Ms. Richmond ([email protected]).

Competing Interests

The authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

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