Patient Volume and Dispositions in a VA Psychiatric Emergency Room During COVID-19.
Community Ment Health J
; 57(7): 1237-1239, 2021 10.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1053043
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a decline in emergency department visits in the United States. Less is known about how COVID-19 has impacted psychiatric emergency services (PES). This report compares visits to the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs psychiatric emergency room from March-August 2020 to the same period from three prior years (2017, 2018, 2019) to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on patient volume and dispositions. Compared to prior years, there was a decline in visits in March-August 2020, particularly in April. This coincided with the peak of COVID-19 in the state. Rates of hospitalizations remained consistent, while rates of referrals to residential programs decreased. The decline in visits likely indicates that many veterans postponed necessary mental health and substance use treatment. This delay could have significant clinical ramifications for veterans and may lead to an eventual surge in demand for emergency mental health care.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Emergency Services, Psychiatric
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
Community Ment Health J
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S10597-021-00778-w
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