The impact of a novel policy for pediatric mental health patients in the emergency department

Objectives: Pediatric mental health presentations continue to increase across the US. These patients often board for significant periods of time and may require more resources than other acute non-mental health patients. This has important implications for the overall function of the emergency department (ED) as well as care of all ED patients. Methods: This study evaluated a policy developed to allow for inpatient hospital admission when 30% of the ED was occupied by boarding patients at a tertiary care children's hospital. Results: We found an increase in the number of patients for whom this policy applied, and increased days/month this policy was executed over time. There was an increase in the average ED LOS and left without being seen rate during this time which we hypothesize would have been higher without this policy. Conclusions: A hospital policy allowing mental health patients to be admitted to the inpatient hospital once stabilized has the potential to improve ED flow and functionality.