Date: | 09/05/2006 |
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Organization: | Department of Public Health |
Referenced Sources: | Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality |
TO: Hospital Chief Executive Officers, Directors of Emergency Services, Directors of Mental Health Services
FROM: Paul I. Cote, Jr., Commissioner Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Elizabeth Childs, MD, Commissioner Massachusetts Department of Mental Health
DATE: September 5, 2006
The purpose of this memorandum is to share a set of practice recommendations developed by our staff that we think will provide guidance to hospitals in the provision of care to patients with psychiatric disorders and/or behavioral issues in hospital emergency departments (EDs).
These recommendations were developed in response to problems in the care of such patients identified by staff from the DPH Division of Health Care Quality during recent investigations. For the health and safety of patients in EDs with psychiatric disorders and/or behavioral issues, we urge you to review and adopt the attached recommendations.