HSN cuts emergency wait times for mental health patients

Health Sciences North has reduced the time mental health care patients waited to be admitted to an inpatient psychiatric bed by 65 per cent compared to last year.

Between April and October 2013, mental health care patients who needed to be admitted to an inpatient psychiatric bed spent a total of 200 patient days in the emergency department, compared to 579 days for the same period in 2012.

“The Mental Health and Addictions Program, the emergency department, and community providers are working more like one integrated system, and we’re seeing the results,” said Maureen McLelland, Health Science North's administrative director for the Mental Health and Addictions Program, in a release.

The hospital said it has provided additional resources to the emergency department specifically for mental health care needs. It has streamlined the process for admitting and discharging patients, which improves access to psychiatric beds, and has improved co-ordination with other mental health care providers, which allows patients to make a faster transition back into the community.

“I am delighted and encouraged by these results, because of what they mean for our patients, “ said Dr. Denis Roy, Health Science North's president and CEO, in a release.

“In our strategic plan, we talk a lot about being patient-centred, but here is tangible evidence that we are matching our words with actions, and I want to congratulate all of the caregivers and departments who look after patients with mental health care needs. They are willing to think and act differently to better meet the needs of their patients, and these results prove this approach is working.”