Average Wait Time in Hours for Adults Awaiting Involuntary Inpatient Placement, including in Emergency Departments
Current Value
50
Definition
Story Behind the Curve
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The Department of Mental Health’s (DMH) goal is to continue to place individuals in appropriate beds as soon as they are available.
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The timely transition of people to inpatient care requires active management daily for individuals of all statuses in need of hospital care.
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DMH's Adult Care Management Team works with each of the Designated Hospitals (DHs), Designated Agency (DA) Emergency Services Teams, and Vermont hospital emergency departments to track and coordinate individual case flow and support the relevant systems in moving people needing care through the system.
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The Adult Care Management Team additionally focuses on longer-term planning for individuals needing ongoing support and treatment services, which includes monitoring availability of placements in various levels of community-based programs across the state.
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Utilization of adult crisis beds in the community for individuals assessed as appropriate for this support and stabilization option, as an alternative to extended ED wait time, has assisted in reducing the number of adults awaiting inpatient place.
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DMH continues to explore voluntary alternative service or bed options that may better meet the needs of Vermonters experiencing a mental health crisis.
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Partners
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Designated Hospitals
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Designated Agencies
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Vermont Hospitals
Notes on Methodology
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Analyses are based on data maintained by the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital (VPCH) Admissions Department from paperwork submitted by DA Emergency Services/Mobile Crisis Teams.
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Wait times are a point in time and are categorized based on month of service, not month of disposition, for clients who had a disposition to a psychiatric inpatient unit.
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Wait times are defined from determination of need for admission to disposition, less time for medical clearance, for persons on court-ordered forensic observations, on warrant for immediate examination, or applications for emergency examination.