ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were fears that a higher proportion of patients with a psychiatric disorder would find themselves in crisis due to the threat of COVID-19 and the impact of the restrictions. If the emergency mental health department would become blocked this could work through to emergency rooms (ER). Acute psychiatry is also assessed at the ER due to lack of space in the emergency mental health department, this is called ‘overflow’. There already was the fear that the virus would flood the hospitals with SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. The emergency mental health department and hospitals agreed that the psychiatric assessments and admissions would take place at the mental health departments as much as possible. AIM: To describe and evaluate the use of measures taken and set up facilities in Amsterdam-Amstelland to minimize psychiatric assessments in the emergency room during the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondly, to present how psychiatric assessments and admissions were conducted safely if there was suspicion or infection with SARS-CoV-2. METHOD: Use of acute psychiatric crisis monitor, the minutes of regional acute care counsel and literature. RESULTS: People with a psychiatric crisis were rarely suspected to be infected with SARS-CoV-2. There was always
sufficient capacity in COVID-19 wards in the mental health department. During the lockdown, we managed to
minimize overflow from the mental health emergency department to emergency rooms. Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic effective collaboration between healthcare partners was achieved in Amsterdam-Amstelland, so that psychiatric assessments and admissions with (suspected) COVID-19 could be conducted safely. Interventions to relieve the emergency room from overflow during lockdown were effective.
