ERs offer suicidal patients little followup care

A new UCLA study found that suicidal emergency patients face numerous barriers to outpatient treatment after leaving the emergency department. Titled "Survey of California Emergency Departments about Practices for Management of Suicidal Patients and Resources Available for Their Care," the study depicts a healthcare system inadequate to the needs of one of emergency medicine's most vulnerable patient populations: the suicidal. The survey was published in the Aug. 18 online edition of the An- nals of Emergency Medicine.

The majority of life-threatening and medically severe suicide attempts are treated in emergency departments, and patients who survive these attempts are at risk for repeat attempts with more lethal methods, as reflected in previous studies. The new study showed that 71 percent of California emergency physicians responding to a UCLA survey reported that they need improved access to mental health personnel for evaluation of suicidal patients, and 61 percent reported needing improved access to mental health personnel for patient disposition.

"We are undermanned and un

community mental health resources

contributes to the documented diffiderstaffed, and the need for

culties in linking emergency patients healthcare is increasing faster than

with mental health problems, includresources are," said Dr. Larry

ing suicide, to outpatient mental Baraff, professor of emergency

health treatment." "This article illusmedicine at the David Geffen

trates what is well known to emerSchool of Medicine at UCLA. "In

gency physicians: Our healthcare the emergency department itself, no

system is broken," said Dr. Frederick single type of mental health profes

Blum, president of the American Colsional, including psychiatrist, social

lege of Emergency Physicians. worker, county or private psychi

"Emergency physicians provide care atric evaluation team, psychiatric

to many of our nation's most at-risk nurse, or psychologist, was avail

patients. Unfortunately, once they able for evaluation of suicidal pa

leave the emergency department, tients in more than 50 percent of

they have to fend for themselves." those who responded. Our survey indicates that lack of adequate