Presenters
Summary
Existing literature has indicated utilizing current care teams marked an improvement in readmission and reduction in emergency department visits. Reducing Emergency Department visits is a system initiative within Geisinger Health System. Being integrated into the primary care setting, data was collected to determine if utilization could be decreased in those utilizing the emergency room for psychiatric related chief complaints (anxiety, depression, psych eval). Motivational Interviewing techniques were used by mental health professionals making the phone calls to patients. Reason for their visit, other options for care, and appointments were offered with the embedded behavioral health professional and/or their PCP. Data has been collected for 1 year to determine the impact of a mental health professional reaching out to those going to the emergency department with a mental health chief complaint. One year post intervention there was a 80% decrease in repeat ER utilization and a 14% decrease in overall ER utilization. There was shown to be a decrease in repeat patients and those using the emergency room and not being admitted for inpatient stays. Pre and post comparison will be included in the final presentation.
Objectives
- Identify ways to utilize motivational interviewing to decrease emergency room visits in behavioral health population
- Discuss with their team how to implement similar strategies
- Describe the reduction in nonemergent visits to the emergency department for behavioral health
