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Guide to Expedited Psychiatric Inpatient Admissions

Each day residents of the Commonwealth that are in need of inpatient psychiatric hospitalization wait in hospital emergency departments (EDs) for extended periods of time, known as ED boarding. For those waiting for a bed in psychiatric hospital facilities, if there is not a plan in place for them after 2 days in the ED there are additional steps created by an initiative by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to facilitate their placement called Expedited Psychiatric Inpatient Admissions (EPIA).

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Referring a patient through EPIA

Step 1:

Create a login

Step 2:

Complete the referral form

Step 3:

 Sending the referral form

  • Once you have completed the referral form and created your login, you can then send the form and any supportive or summary documents email to:expedited.admission@state.ma.us
You must create a secure login access to send the referral form to the DMH for all applicants of EPIA.

Key Actions   for Referring a patient through EPIA

Referral form to request DMH Assistance at 96 hours  Secure DMH email login 

Additional Resources   for Referring a patient through EPIA

Open file,  EPIA Frequently Asked Questions
Open PDF file, 502 KB,  Secure Email Setup Guide (English, PDF 502 KB)

Key steps during ED boarding

The task force that created EPIA has developed protocols for expediting placement of individuals boarding in the ED, including defining roles and responsibilities at each escalation point in the process. Be familiar with the steps that can be taken during the ED boarding time. 

Key Actions   for Key steps during ED boarding

Escalation steps during ED boarding 

Additional Resources   for Key steps during ED boarding

Open file,  Expedited Psychiatric Inpatient Admissions (EPIA) Policy
Image credits:  George Headley

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