The goal of this observational study is to examine the effect of using a video link for evaluation of patients in the psychiatric emergency room. Under current Israeli law, the attending physician must come in to physically examine the patient before they can be admitted involuntarily. Patients often de-compensate and even may become violent while waiting for the attending to arrive. Previous studies have shown that evaluation of such patients via video-link has an extremely high concordance with in person evaluation. This study will compare patients who are evaluated via video-link with historical controls evaluated under usual conditions. This is an observational study, which is taking advantage of a change in practice to collect data on two different ways of delivering care, via chart reviews. If successful, this study will show that the video-link is feasible and acceptable to patients and staff. The following hypotheses will be tested: 1. The intervention will result in shorter ED time compared to historical controls. 2. The intervention will result in fewer violent incidents compared to historical controls. 3. The intervention will result in shorter overall hospital length of stay compared to historical controls.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
959
Instead of coming to the hospital physically, the attending psychiatrist will evaluate the patient via a video-link.
HaEmek Medical Center
Afula, Israel
Jerusalem Mental Health Center - Eitanim
Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem Mental Health Center
Jerusalem, Israel
Shaar Menashe Psychiatric Hospital
Pardés H̱anna Karkur, Israel
Geha Psychiatric Hospital
Petah Tikva, Israel
Ziv Medical Center
Safed, Israel
Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center
Tel Aviv, Israel
Lev Hasharon Mental Health Center
Tsur Moshe, Israel
ED Time
Amount of time, in hours and minutes, that the patient spends in the ED prior to disposition
Time frame: Patients arrive in the ED at a specific time and leave the ED at a specific time. We will compute the amount of time spent in the ED by each patient, up to two weeks.
Violent Incidents
Adjudicated violent incidents that occur, whether in the ED or on the psychiatry ward. Includes hitting, kicking, throwing, and property destruction
Time frame: Patients arrive in the ED at a specific time. Those who are admitted are eventually discharged. Violent incidents can occur during the entire time spent in the hospital, whether in the ED or on the ward, up to 90 days total.
Hospital Length of Stay
Length of stay, in days, starting with time of arrival to ED
Time frame: For patients admitted to the hospital through the ED, the beginning time is their arrival to ED, the end is the time of hospital discharge, up to 90 days later.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.