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An Examination of Emergency Department Pediatric Psychiatric Services

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the structure, process, and outcomes of emergency department (ED) psychiatric services that are available to children who present with behavioral health problems. The author designed and employed a 33-item survey for data collection. All nonfederal EDs in one southeastern state (N = 68) were solicited to participate. Descriptive analyses including ANOVAs, t tests, and chi-squares summarized sample characteristics and group differences by ED pediatric psychiatric service (EDPPS) arrangement. Thirty-four hospitals participated, sharing similar organizational characteristics with nonresponders except that participating hospitals were significantly more likely to have inpatient psychiatric services. The survey successfully captured data confirming that EDs use a range of strategies to manage children with behavioral health problems, raising concerns about the suitability of such service variation. These results highlight the need for further research that examines the association of EDPPS structure and process with patient and organizational outcomes to inform quality improvements in pediatric behavioral healthcare.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adult Health and Nursing Systems, School of Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980567, Richmond, VA, 23298-0567, USA

    Jennifer Field Brown PMH-CNS/NP BC, PhD

  2. Joint Appointment in Department of Biostatistics and School of Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980567, Richmond, VA, 23298-0567, USA

    Christine M. Schubert PhD

Authors
  1. Jennifer Field Brown PMH-CNS/NP BC, PhD
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  2. Christine M. Schubert PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer Field Brown PMH-CNS/NP BC, PhD.

Additional information

This project was supported by a grant through the A.D. Williams Foundation at Virginia Commonwealth University. We would like to acknowledge the assistance of Tina Cunningham, BS in data analysis.

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Brown, J.F., Schubert, C.M. An Examination of Emergency Department Pediatric Psychiatric Services. J Behav Health Serv Res 37, 412–426 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-009-9189-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-009-9189-8

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