American College of Emergency Physicians Physician Poll on Psychiatric Emergencies October, 2016
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) conducted an online poll of 26,812 emergency physicians between September 28 and October 6, 2016. The survey had a total of 1,716 responses (6.4%) with a margin of error ±2.3% Q1: In my opinion, within the past year, the mental health system in my community has: Total Don t know 45 Improved greatly 5 Improved slightly 113 Stayed the same 656 Worsened greatly 391 Worsened slightly 506 Worsened greatly 391 Worsened slightly 506 Stayed the same 656 Improved slightly 113 Improved greatly 5 Don t know 45 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 American College of Emergency Physicians October, 2016 Page 1
Q2: How often do you see patients who you believe require admission for mental illness? Total At least once a shift 657 At least once every 2-5 shifts 361 Rarely more than every 5 shifts 65 Several times a shift 633 Rarely more than every 5 shifts 65 At least once every 2 5 shifts 361 At least once a shift 657 Several times a shift 633 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 American College of Emergency Physicians October, 2016 Page 2
Q3: Do psychiatric patients board in your emergency department (held until psychiatric bed becomes available)? Total Don t know 9 No 150 Yes 1551 (blank) 6 (blank) 6 Yes 1551 No 150 Don t know 9 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 American College of Emergency Physicians October, 2016 Page 3
Q4: How frequently are psychiatric patients boarded in your emergency department? Total One or more times per day 831 Six or more times per week 186 Four to six times per week 122 One to three times per week 311 Less than once per month 58 Never 5 Don t know 30 (blank) 173 (blank) Don t know Never Less than once per month One to three times per week Four to six times per week Six or more times per week One or more times per day 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 American College of Emergency Physicians October, 2016 Page 4
Q5: On your last shift in the emergency department, were there any patients Total waiting for a psychiatric bed? Don t know 45 No 248 Yes 1248 (blank) 175 (blank) 175 Yes 1248 No 248 Don t know 45 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 American College of Emergency Physicians October, 2016 Page 5
Q6: Approximately how many patients were waiting for a psychiatric bed? Total 1 to 5 981 6 to 10 183 11 to 20 52 20 to 30 7 More than 30 6 Don t know 13 (blank) 474 More than 30 6 20 to 30 7 11 to 20 52 6 to 10 183 1 to 5 981 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 American College of Emergency Physicians October, 2016 Page 6
Q7: Approximately how long was the longest patient waiting in the emergency Total department for an inpatient bed? Less than an hour 1 1 to 4 hours 15 4 to 12 hours 149 12 to 24 hours 262 1 to 2 Days 286 2 to 5 Days 365 6 to 10 Days 73 More than 10 Days 67 Don t know 24 (blank) 474 More than 10 Days 67 6 to 10 Days 73 2 to 5 Days 365 1 to 2 Days 286 12 to 24 hours 262 4 to 12 hours 149 1 to 4 hours 15 Less than an hour 1 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 American College of Emergency Physicians October, 2016 Page 7
Q8: Are you seeing increased wait/boarding times for pediatric patients with psychiatric Total complaints? Don t know 281 No 265 Yes 987 (blank) 183 (blank) 183 Yes 987 No 265 Don t know 281 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 American College of Emergency Physicians October, 2016 Page 8
Q9: Who is on call to respond to your emergency department for psychiatric Total consults? No one is on call 201 On call psychiatric specialist but non physician (social worker, nurse, etc) 812 On call psychiatrist 291 On call resident 185 Other 195 (blank) 32 (blank) 32 Other 195 On call resident 185 On call psychiatrist 291 On call psychiatric specialist but non physician (social worker, nurse, etc) 812 No one is on call 201 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 American College of Emergency Physicians October, 2016 Page 9