Emergency departments nationwide are seeing a rise in mental and behavioral health patients. As demand for these services swells, post-pandemic, community and state resources are unable to deal with the need, forcing patients and families to seek care in already overcrowded EDs. Between 2007 and 2020, the number of ED visits for mental health reasons nearly doubled. Post-pandemic, it is estimated that one in seven people arriving in the ED are there for a behavioral health issue. The average stay for these patients is three times longer than traditional medical patients. EDs have small, dedicated areas to isolate patients “at risk of harm to themselves or others,” primarily designed for safety and a relatively short stay. The little, sparsely furnished, windowless rooms restrict movement and are continuously monitored by cameras and/or individual “sitters.” This can be hours, days, or even weeks, as a safe transition is planned and arranged with limited psychiatric care and interactions while waiting.
EmPATH Emergency Psychiatric Assessment Treatment and Healing (EmPATH) is a concept that gained national attention to help patients requiring acute mental and behavioral health evaluation and stabilization. Originated by Dr. Scott Zeller in 2012, he elected not to copyright the term so others could adopt it more easily. Following the required Emergency Department medical screening examination, EmPATH observation spaces provide immediate access to psychiatric professionals to assess, stabilize, and treat within a group setting with frequent interactions with staff. The Joint Commission and the National Center for Behavioral Health recognized EmPATH in the 2022 Facility Guidelines Institute’s Guidelines for Design and Construction after Zeller was named one of the “ten most influential people in healthcare design for 2020.”
Our approach to EmPATH re-imagines mental health care in a more compassionate, less restrictive, patient-centric model focused on both the acute crisis and meaningful outcomes. To meet the needs of patients, caregivers, and our community, we critically evaluated all aspects of our existing ED psychiatric care model, not just space. As a new concept and the first of its kind program in our state, enabling projects were undertaken to connect the ED and community services more collaboratively.
