Understanding and Assisting the Recovery of Non-English-Speaking Trauma Survivors: Assessment of the NESTS Pathway.

INTRODUCTION: Spanish-speaking trauma and burn patients have unique needs in their post-discharge care navigation. The confluence of limited English proficiency, injury recovery, mental health, socioeconomic disadvantages, and acute stressors following hospital admission converge to enhance patients' vulnerability, but their specific needs and means of meeting these needs have not been well described. METHODS: This prospective, cross-sectional survey study describes the results of a multi-institutional initiative devised to help Spanish-speaking trauma and burn patients in their care navigation after hospitalization. The pathway consisted of informational resources, intake and follow up surveys, and multiple points of contact with a community health worker who aids in accessing community resources and navigating the healthcare system. RESULTS: From January 2022-November 2023, there were 114 patients identified as eligible for the NESTS pathway. Of these, 80 (70.2%) were reachable and consented to participate, and 68 of these patients were approached in person during their initial hospitalization. After initial screening, 60 (75.0%) of the eligible patients had a mental health, social services, or other need identified via our survey instrument. During the initial consultation with the CHW, 48 of the 60 patients with any identified need were connected to a resource (80%). Food support was the most prevalent need (N=46, 57.5%). More patients were connected to mental health resources (N=16) than reported need in this domain (N=7). CONCLUSIONS: The NESTS pathway identified the specific needs of Spanish-speaking trauma and burn patients in their recovery, notably food, transportation, and utilities. The pathway also addressed disparities in post-discharge care by connecting patients with community resources, with particular improvement in access to mental healthcare.

Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders and Their Association With Clinical Outcomes in Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) are life-threatening conditions that send nearly 180,000 patients to the intensive care unit each year, with mortality rates up to 5-10%. Little is known about the impact of concurrent psychiatric disorders on specific DKA/HHS outcomes. Identifying these relationships offers opportunities to improve clinical management, treatment planning, and mitigate associated morbidity and mortality. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review including adult DKA/HHS admissions within a large Massachusetts hospital system from 2010 to 2019. We identified patients admitted inpatient for DKA or HHS, then filtered by International Classification of Disease-9-CM and International Classification of Disease-10-CM codes for psychiatric diagnoses that were present in patients electronic medical record at any point in this observational period. Outcomes included the number of inpatient admissions for DKA/HHS, age of death, rates of discharging against medical advice (AMA) from any inpatient admission, and end-stage renal disease/dialysis status. Multivariate regression was conducted using R software to control for variables across patients and evaluate relationships between outcomes and concurrent psychiatric disorders. Significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Seven thousand seven hundred fifty-six patients were admitted for DKA or HHS, 66.9% of whom had a concurrent psychiatric disorder. Of these patients, 54.5% were male, 70.4% were White, and they had an average age of 61.6 years. This compares with 26.1% with concurrent psychiatric condition within the general diabetes population, 52.1% of whom were male, 72.1% were White, and an average age of 68.2 years. A concurrent psychiatric disorder was associated with increased odds of rehospitalization (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.62 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35-1.95, P < 0.001), of being diagnosed with end-stage renal disease and on dialysis (aOR = 1.02 95% CI 1.002-1.035, P = 0.02), and of leaving AMA (aOR = 6.44 95% CI 4.46-9.63, P < 0.001). The average age of death for those with a concurrent psychiatric disorder had an adjusted mean difference in years of -7.5 years (95% CI -9.3 to 5.8) compared to those without a psychiatric disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Of patients with DKA/HHS, 66.9% have a concurrent psychiatric disorder. Patients with a concurrent psychiatric disorder admitted for DKA/HHS were more likely to have multiple admissions, to leave AMA, to be on renal dialysis, and to have a lower age of mortality.

Determinants of long-term physical and mental health outcomes after intensive care admission for trauma survivors.

INTRODUCTION: Collectively, studies from medical and surgical intensive care units (ICU) suggest that long-term outcomes are poor for patients who have spent significant time in an ICU. We sought to identify determinants of post-intensive care physical and mental health outcomes 6-12 months after injury. METHODS: Adult trauma patients [ISS ≥9] admitted to one of three Level-1 trauma centers were interviewed 6-12 months post-injury to evaluate patient-reported outcomes. Patients requiring ICU admission â€‹≥ â€‹3 days ("ICU patients") were compared with those who did not require ICU admission ("non-ICU patients"). Multivariable regression models were built to identify factors associated with poor outcomes among ICU survivors. RESULTS: 2407 patients were followed [598 (25%) ICU and 1809 (75%) non-ICU patients]. Among ICU patients, 506 (85%) reported physical or mental health symptoms. Of them, 265 (52%) had physical symptoms only, 15 (3%) had mental symptoms only, and 226 (45%) had both physical and mental symptoms. In adjusted analyses, compared to non-ICU patients, ICU patients were more likely to have new limitations for ADLs (OR â€‹= â€‹1.57; 95% CI â€‹= â€‹1.21, 2.03), and worse SF-12 mental (mean Δ â€‹= â€‹-1.43; 95% CI â€‹= â€‹-2.79, -0.09) and physical scores (mean Δ â€‹= â€‹-2.61; 95% CI â€‹= â€‹-3.93, -1.28). Age, female sex, Black race, lower education level, polytrauma, ventilator use, history of psychiatric illness, and delirium during ICU stay were associated with poor outcomes in the ICU-admitted group. CONCLUSIONS: Physical impairment and mental health symptoms following ICU stay are highly prevalent among injury survivors. Modifiable ICU-specific factors such as early liberation from ventilator support and prevention of delirium are potential targets for intervention.

Factors that influence interprofessional implementation of trauma-informed care in the emergency department.

Background: To describe factors that influence interprofessional staff decisions and ability to implement trauma-informed care (TIC) in a level-one emergency department (ED) trauma center. Methods: This qualitative research study consisted of semi-structured interviews and quantitative surveys that were conducted between March and December 2020 at an urban trauma center. Eligible participants were staff working in the ED. Interview questions were developed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), which is designed to identify influences on health professional behavior related to implementation of evidence-based recommendations. Interview responses were transcribed, coded using Atlas software, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Key themes identified included awareness of TIC principles, impact of TIC on staff and patients, and experiences of bias. Participants identified opportunities to improve care for patients with a trauma history, including staff training, more time with patients, and efforts to decrease bias toward patients. Most participants (85.7%) felt that a TIC plan, tiered trauma inquiry, and warm handovers would be easy or very easy to implement. Conclusion: We identified key interprofessional staff beliefs and attitudes that influence implementation of TIC in the ED. These factors represent potential individual, team-based, and organizational targets for behavior change interventions to improve staff response to patient trauma and to address secondary trauma experienced by ED staff.

C-L Case Conference: Torsades de Pointes in a Patient With Lifelong Medical Trauma, COVID-19, Remdesivir, Citalopram, Quetiapine, and Hemodialysis.

We present a case of Torsades de Pointes (TdP) in a patient with COVID-19 infection and multiple TdP risk factors including QT-interval prolongation, hemodialysis, bradycardia, and treatment with remdesivir, citalopram, and quetiapine. The case was complicated by post-resuscitation anxiety superimposed on a history of medical trauma since childhood. Top experts in the field of consultation-liaison psychiatry, trauma informed care, and cardiac electrophysiology provide perspectives on this case with a review of the literature. Key teaching topics include identification of TdP risk factors in patients with a complex illness; the necessity for prompt electrophysiology consultation in clinical scenarios with high risk for TdP; and the approach to patients with medical trauma using a trauma-informed lens. We highlight the contributions of COVID-19, the pharmacokinetics of QT-interval-prolonging psychotropic medications, the risks of hemodialysis, and the role of remdesivir-induced bradycardia in this first reported case of TdP in a patient treated with remdesivir.

Posttraumatic growth as a moderator between pandemic-related distress and mental health symptoms in U.S. young adults.

OBJECTIVE: Compared to other age groups, young adults are at risk of suffering COVID-19 pandemic-related psychological problems. Prior research suggests that such adverse events (like the pandemic) can initiate adaptive psychological changes, referred to as posttraumatic growth (PTG); however, limited studies have examined the moderating role of PTG among young adults in the United States with regard to COVID-19-related distress. Thus, this study examines whether pandemic-related distress has a differential effect on young adults' mental health symptoms based on varying levels of PTG. METHOD: Using the data from 661 participants who completed all three waves of the CARES study (T1: April-August 2020; T2: September 2020-March 2021; T3: April-May 2021), a moderator analysis was performed using the PROCESS Macro to determine the moderating effect of PTG. RESULTS: In our data, higher levels of PTG buffered the effects of pandemic-related distress from 2020 on depressive symptoms in 2021; PTG did not show a moderating effect with anxiety as an outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the moderating role of PTG would help to further understand the mental health trajectories of young adults in the United States who are particularly distressed by the pandemic. Our findings suggest the importance of further exploring contributors to PTG for young adults, particularly among those who have experienced high levels of pandemic-related distress to date. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Developing a National Trauma Research Action Plan: Results from the long-term outcomes research gap Delphi survey.

BACKGROUND: In the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2016 report on trauma care, the establishment of a National Trauma Research Action Plan to strengthen and guide future trauma research was recommended. To address this recommendation, the Department of Defense funded the Coalition for National Trauma Research to generate a comprehensive research agenda spanning the continuum of trauma and burn care. We describe the gap analysis and high-priority research questions generated from the National Trauma Research Action Plan panel on long-term outcomes. METHODS: Experts in long-term outcomes were recruited to identify current gaps in long-term trauma outcomes research, generate research questions, and establish the priority for these questions using a consensus-driven, Delphi survey approach from February 2021 to August 2021. Panelists were identified using established Delphi recruitment guidelines to ensure heterogeneity and generalizability including both military and civilian representation. Panelists were encouraged to use a PICO format to generate research questions: Patient/Population, Intervention, Compare/Control, and Outcome model. On subsequent surveys, panelists were asked to prioritize each research question on a 9-point Likert scale, categorized to represent low-, medium-, and high-priority items. Consensus was defined as ≥60% of panelists agreeing on the priority category. RESULTS: Thirty-two subject matter experts generated 482 questions in 17 long-term outcome topic areas. By Round 3 of the Delphi, 359 questions (75%) reached consensus, of which 107 (30%) were determined to be high priority, 252 (70%) medium priority, and 0 (0%) low priority. Substance abuse and pain was the topic area with the highest number of questions. Health services (not including mental health or rehabilitation) (64%), mental health (46%), and geriatric population (43%) were the topic areas with the highest proportion of high-priority questions. CONCLUSION: This Delphi gap analysis of long-term trauma outcomes research identified 107 high-priority research questions that will help guide investigators in future long-term outcomes research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Tests or Criteria; Level IV.

Trauma-informed Care Interventions in Emergency Medicine: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Trauma exposure is a highly prevalent experience for patients and clinicians in emergency medicine (EM). Trauma-informed care (TIC) is an effective framework to mitigate the negative health impacts of trauma. This systematic review synthesizes the range of TIC interventions in EM, with a focus on patient and clinician outcomes, and identifies gaps in the current research on implementing TIC. METHODS: The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020205182). We systematically searched peer-reviewed journals and abstracts in the PubMed, EMBASE (Elsevier), PsycINFO (EBSCO), Social Services Abstract (ProQuest), and CINAHL (EBSCO) databases from 1990 onward on August 12, 2020. We analyzed studies describing explicit TIC interventions in the ED setting using inductive qualitative content analysis to identify recurrent themes and identify unique trauma-informed interventions in each study. Studies not explicitly citing TIC were excluded. Studies were assessed for bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa criteria and Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Checklist. RESULTS: We identified a total of 1,372 studies and abstracts, with 10 meeting inclusion criteria for final analysis. Themes within TIC interventions that emerged included educational interventions, collaborations with allied health professionals and community organizations, and patient and clinician safety interventions. Educational interventions included lectures, online modules, and standardized patient exercises. Collaborations with community organizations focused on addressing social determinants of health. All interventions suggested a positive impact from TIC on either clinicians or patients, but outcomes data remain limited. CONCLUSION: Trauma-informed care is a nascent field in EM with limited operationalization of TIC approaches. Future studies with patient and clinician outcomes analyzing universal TIC precautions and systems-level interventions are needed.

The Social Vulnerability Index and Long-term Outcomes After Traumatic Injury.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) as a predictor of long-term outcomes after injury. BACKGROUND: The SVI is a measure used in emergency preparedness to identify need for resources in the event of a disaster or hazardous event, ranking each census tract on 15 demographic/social factors. METHODS: Moderate-severely injured adult patients treated at 1 of 3 level-1 trauma centers were prospectively followed 6 to 14 months post-injury. These data were matched at the census tract level with overall SVI percentile rankings. Patients were stratified based on SVI quartiles, with the lowest quartile designated as low SVI, the middle 2 quartiles as average SVI, and the highest quartile as high SVI. Multivariable adjusted regression models were used to assess whether SVI was associated with long-term outcomes after injury. RESULTS: A total of 3153 patients were included [54% male, mean age 61.6 (SD = 21.6)]. The median overall SVI percentile rank was 35th (IQR: 16th-65th). compared to low SVI patients, high SVI patients were more likely to have new functional limitations [odds ratio (OR), 1.51; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.19-1.92), to not have returned to work (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.40-2.89), and to screen positive for post-traumatic stress disorder (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.12-2.17). Similar results were obtained when comparing average with low SVI patients, with average SVI patients having significantly worse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The SVI has potential utility in predicting individuals at higher risk for adverse long-term outcomes after injury. This measure may be a useful needs assessment tool for clinicians and researchers in identifying communities that may benefit most from targeted prevention and intervention efforts.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee: An Instrument to Champion Diversity Efforts Within a Large Academic Psychiatry Department.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have become increasingly recognized as essential to the practice of high-quality patient care delivery and the support of members of the clinical environment. A solid understanding of DEI contributes to a better grasp of what drives health care disparities and yields improved clinical outcomes for minority populations. This column discusses how individuals can practically promote DEI by describing the design and implementation of DEI in an academic psychiatry department. The authors highlight the powerful role of departmental initiatives in establishing best practices for DEI and lessons learned through the work of the psychiatry department's DEI committee.

Provider perspectives on the provision of safe, equitable, trauma-informed care for intimate partner violence survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Early research suggests the COVID-19 pandemic worsened intimate partner violence (IPV) in the US. In particular, stay-at-home orders and social distancing kept survivors in close proximity to their abusers and restricted access to resources and care. We aimed to understand and characterize the impact of the pandemic on delivery of IPV care in Boston. METHODS: We conducted individual interviews with providers of IPV care and support in the Greater Boston area, including healthcare workers, social workers, lawyers, advocates, and housing specialists, who continued to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using thematic analysis, we identified themes describing the challenges and opportunites providers faced in caring for survivors during the pandemic. RESULTS: Analysis of 18 interviews yielded four thematic domains, encompassing 18 themes and nine sub-themes. Thematic analysis revealed that the pandemic posed an increased threat to survivors of IPV by exacerbating external stressors and leading to heightened violence. On a system level, the pandemic led to widespread uncertainty, strained resources, amplified inequities, and loss of community. On an individual level, COVID-19 restrictions limited survivors' abilities to access resources and to be safe, and amplified pre-existing inequities, such as limited technology access. Those who did not speak English or were immigrants experienced even more difficulty accessing resources due to language and/or cultural barriers. To address these challenges, providers utilized video and telephone interactions, and stressed the importance of creativity and cooperation across different sectors of care. CONCLUSIONS: While virtual care was essential in allowing providers to care for survivors, and also allowed for increased flexibility, it was not a panacea. Many survivors faced additional obstacles to care, such as language barriers, unequal access to technology, lack of childcare, and economic insecurity. Providers addressed these barriers by tailoring services and care modalities to an individual's needs and circumstances. Going forward, some innovations of the pandemic period, such as virtual interactions and cooperation across care sectors, may be utilized in ways that attend to shifting survivor needs and access, thereby improving safe, equitable, and trauma-informed IPV care.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Long-term Recovery From Traumatic Injury.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the proportion and characteristics of traumatic injury survivors who perceive a negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their recovery and to define post-injury outcomes for this cohort. BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated physical, psychological, and social stressors that may create a uniquely difficult recovery and reintegration environment for injured patients. METHODS: Adult (≥18 years) survivors of moderate-to-severe injury completed a survey 6 to 14 months post-injury during the COVID-19 pandemic. This survey queried individuals about the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on injury recovery and assessed post-injury functional and mental health outcomes. Regression models were built to identify factors associated with a perceived negative impact of the pandemic on injury recovery, and to define the relationship between these perceptions and long-term outcomes. RESULTS: Of 597 eligible trauma survivors who were contacted, 403 (67.5%) completed the survey. Twenty-nine percent reported that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted their recovery and 24% reported difficulty accessing needed healthcare. Younger age, lower perceived-socioeconomic status, extremity injury, and prior psychiatric illness were independently associated with negative perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on injury recovery. In adjusted analyses, patients who reported a negative impact of the pandemic on their recovery were more likely to have new functional limitations, daily pain, lower physical and mental component scores of the Short-Form-12 and to screen positive for PTSD and depression. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic is negatively impacting the recovery of trauma survivors. It is essential that we recognize the impact of the pandemic on injured patients while focusing on directed efforts to improve the long-term outcomes of this already at-risk population.

Psychosocial correlates of posttraumatic growth among U.S. young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Given the prolonged nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between posttraumatic growth (PTG) among young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and their psychosocial characteristics, specifically: distress tolerance; resilience; family connectedness; depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms; and COVID-19-related worry. The study utilized data from 805 U.S. young adults (18-30 years) who completed online surveys during the COVID-19 pandemic across two waves (April-August 2020 and September 2020-March 2021). Overall, young adults reported low PTG scores. PTSD symptoms and COVID-19-related worry significantly predicted higher levels of PTG, while their depression symptoms predicted lower levels of PTG. Resilience and family connectedness significantly predicted higher levels of PTG, and distress tolerance significantly predicted lower levels of PTG after accounting for sociodemographic characteristics and negative influential factors. Compared to Whites, Asians were less likely to report PTG. In general, young adults have not perceived personal growth from the pandemic; however, young adults with certain psychosocial factors appear to be predisposed to such PTG. This study highlights the importance of exploring and elucidating the potential positive trajectories following the adversity of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mental Health Burden After Injury: It's About More than Just Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Assess the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after injury and their association with long-term functional outcomes. BACKGROUND: Mental health disorders (MHD) after injury have been associated with worse long-term outcomes. However, prior studies almost exclusively focused on PTSD. METHODS: Trauma patients with an injury severity score ≥9 treated at 3 Level-I trauma centers were contacted 6-12 months post-injury to screen for anxiety (generalized anxiety disorder-7), depression (patient health questionnaire-8), PTSD (8Q-PCL-5), pain, and functional outcomes (trauma quality of life instrument, and short-form health survey)). Associations between mental and physical outcomes were established using adjusted multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: Of the 531 patients followed, 108 (20%) screened positive for any MHD: of those who screened positive for PTSD (7.9%, N = 42), all had co-morbid depression and/or anxiety. In contrast, 66 patients (12.4%) screened negative for PTSD but positive for depression and/or anxiety. Compared to patients with no MHD, patients who screened positive for PTSD were more likely to have chronic pain {odds ratio (OR): 8.79 [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.21, 24.08]}, functional limitations [OR: 7.99 (95% CI: 3.50, 18.25)] and reduced physical health [ß: -9.3 (95% CI: -13.2, -5.3)]. Similarly, patients who screened positive for depression/anxiety (without PTSD) were more likely to have chronic pain [OR: 5.06 (95% CI: 2.49, 10.46)], functional limitations [OR: 2.20 (95% CI: 1.12, 4.32)] and reduced physical health [ß: -5.1 (95% CI: -8.2, -2.0)] compared to those with no MHD. CONCLUSIONS: The mental health burden after injury is significant and not limited to PTSD. Distinguishing among MHD and identifying symptom-clusters that overlap among these diagnoses, may help stratify risk of poor outcomes, and provide opportunities for more focused screening and treatment interventions.

Long-term outcomes of psychoactive drug use in trauma patients: A multicenter patient-reported outcomes study.

INTRODUCTION: Psychoactive drug use (PDU) is reported in up to 40% of trauma patients and is associated with a higher rate of in-hospital complications. However, little is known about its long-term impact on trauma patients. We aimed to assess the long-term functional, mental, and psychosocial outcomes of PDU in trauma patients 6 to 12 months after injury. METHODS: Trauma patients with moderate to severe injuries (Injury Severity Score, >9) who had a toxicology screen upon admission to one of three level 1 trauma centers were contacted by phone 6 to 12 months postinjury. Psychoactive drug use was defined as the presence of a psychoactive, nonprescribed substance on toxicology screen including amphetamine, barbiturate, benzodiazepine, cannabinoid, methamphetamine, methadone, opioid, oxycodone, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), phencyclidine, tricyclic antidepressant, and cocaine. The interviews systematically evaluated functional limitations, social functioning, chronic pain, and mental health (posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety). Patients with a score of ≤47 on the Short-Form Health Survey version 2.0 social functioning subdomain were considered to have social dysfunction. Multivariable regression models were built to determine the independent association between PDU and long-term outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 1,699 eligible patients, 571 (34%) were included in the analysis, and 173 (30.3%) screened positive for PDU on admission. Patients with PDU were younger (median age [interquartile range], 43 [28-55] years vs. 66 [46-78] years, p < 0.001), had more penetrating injuries (8.7% vs. 4.3%, p = 0.036), and were less likely to have received a college education (41.3% vs. 54.5%, p = 0.004). After adjusting for patients' characteristics including the presence of a baseline psychiatric comorbidity, patients with PDU on admission were more likely to suffer from daily chronic pain, mental health disorders, and social dysfunction 6 to 12 months after injury. There was no difference in the functional limitations between patients with and without PDU. CONCLUSION: On the long term, PDU in trauma patients is strongly and independently associated with worse mental health, more chronic pain, and severe impairment in social functioning. A trauma hospitalization presents an opportunity to identify patients at risk and to mitigate the long-term impact of PDU on recovery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic/epidemiologic, level III.

Impact of a Rapid-Access Ambulatory Psychiatry Encounter on Subsequent Emergency Department Utilization.

The authors sought to determine whether providing a rapid-access ambulatory psychiatry encounter correlated with emergency department utilization during a 6-month follow-up period. Electronic medical records of patients who accessed ambulatory psychiatric care through an urgent care psychiatry clinic that offers treatment exclusively on a walk-in basis over a 1-year period (N = 157) were reviewed retrospectively to track emergency department encounters with and without a psychiatric chief complaint in the 6 months before and after the initial psychiatry evaluation. Among patients who had not previously received ambulatory psychiatric care (N = 88), emergency department utilization decreased from 0.68 visits per patient to 0.36, and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.0147). No statistically significant differences were found between the average number of emergency department encounters in the 6 months before and after the rapid-access ambulatory psychiatry encounter, regardless of chief complaint, when all patients were included in the analysis. Providing a rapid-access ambulatory psychiatry encounter may reduce subsequent emergency department utilization among patients who have not previously received ambulatory psychiatric care.

Patients' and Their Caregivers' Interest in Learning About Post-ICU Syndrome and Seeking Help for It.

Critical Illness Recovery Programs report low attendance. We aimed to provide information about postintensive care syndrome and to learn which patients would pursue help in a Critical Illness Recovery Clinic. All patients who checked in to our Lung Center were given a survey regarding their ICU experience and offered information about postintensive care syndrome and an appointment in the clinic. Nine hundred and twenty respondents reported having had an ICU experience: 37% of former ICU patients reported difficulty returning to their normal lives afterward compared with 21% who were family or close friends of a former ICU patient. Only 5% requested information and less than 1% requested a dedicated appointment. More than one of three former ICU patients and one in five close friends or relatives of former ICU patients reported difficulty returning to their normal lives after their ICU experience. Very few pursued the opportunity to learn more about it or seek help.