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White Papers

Improving Behavioral Health Care in the Emergency Department and Upstream

This white paper provides actionable guidance for hospital emergency departments and their community partners to create a compassionate, seamless, and effective system of care for mental health and substance use disorder patients who present to the ED.

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Highlights

  • A framework for a better system of care that comprises four key components: Processes, Provider Culture, Patients, and Partnerships
  • High-leverage changes and specific change ideas
  • Suggested measures
  • Practical tips and examples
  • Resources and tools

Throughout the United States, individuals with mental health conditions or substance use disorders frequently present to the hospital emergency department (ED) for care, yet many ED teams lack the capacity to adequately support these individuals.

In addition to making improvements in the emergency department, it is integral for health systems to also partner with community-based organizations that provide supportive services for individuals before a crisis brings them to the ED.

This IHI White Paper provides actionable guidance for hospital emergency departments and their community partners to create a compassionate, seamless, and effective system of care that is respectful of and works with patients with mental health conditions and substance use disorders who present to the ED.

In addition to the white paper, other related content is also available for download:

  • Improvement Stories: Present the experiences of seven health systems and some specific changes they tested in their EDs
  • Excerpted Framework, Changes, and Measures: Content extracted in abbreviated format from the IHI White Paper

How to Cite This Paper:
Schall M, Laderman M, Bamel D, Bolender T. Improving Behavioral Health Care in the Emergency Department and Upstream. IHI White Paper. Boston: Institute for Healthcare Improvement; 2020. (Available at ihi.org)

Overview of the White Paper

 

Behavioral Health
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WHITE PAPER: Improving Behavioral Health Care in the Emergency Department and Upstream Improvement Stories: Improving Behavioral Health Care in the ED and Upstream Framework, Changes, and Measures (Excerpt from White Paper)

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