Emergency Department (ED) overcrowding has reached a critical juncture, exacerbated by the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the admission of behavioral health patients. This has given rise to significant operational, financial, and clinical challenges for EDs, grappling with issues such as reduced staffing levels, concurrent respiratory infections, a notable increase in self-harm, and ongoing discharge challenges throughout the hospital. The ED has become the largest nursing unit in the hospitals as daily holds and mental health patients overwhelm the clinical “Font Door” of each hospital.
This session we will uncover strategies to address these ongoing challenges: