Summary: East Jefferson General Hospital (EJGH) is doing things a little differently to try to reduce ER usage among their mental health patients. According to Joe Eppling, assistant vice president of post acute and behavior health services for EJGH, placing a psychiatric nurse in the ER around the clock enables hospital staff to really know the population they are treating, and in turn reduce ER "super users." Eppling also discusses the effect medical homes and transitional care units could have on the mental health population and suggests optimal ER wait times for this population. Eppling, along with Julie Szempruch, associate vice president for the Midtown Mental Health Center, Wishard Health Services, will describe their organizations' strategies for serving the needs of the behavioral health patient in the emergency room during a July 30, 2008 webinar, Emergency Department Diversion Through Behavioral Health Linkages.
