For the past several years, our healthcare delivery system has been struggling to address an onslaught of behavioral health crises. Many patients have suffered because they haven’t been able to get the kind of help that they need, and others have received services in crowded, medically focused emergency departments or other inappropriate treatment settings. This session will describe an array of service alternatives from crisis call centers to psychiatric emergency departments and the key steps that are required for successful development to address this need. The incidence of behavioral health crises continues to increase throughout the United States, resulting in an estimated 20,000–25,000 visits per day to hospital emergency departments. Although many of these patients can be better served by alternative treatment settings, some of which have been established as “best practices,” in many communities these services are often an afterthought or workaround.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the range of possibilities for dealing with behavioral health patients in crisis.
• Explore the operational and financial implications of each potential service to help determine which approach(es) may be most appropriate for your organization.

Presented By:

• Howard J. Gershon, LFACHE, Founding Principal, New Heights Group
• Leslie S. Zun, MD, Medical Director, Lake County Health Department
• Stephen M. Merz, FACHE, Principal, Merz Healthcare Consulting

This session was originally presented at the 2021 Congress on Healthcare Leadership.

Continuing Education Credit

ACHE Qualifying Education Credit

This recording is eligible for 1 ACHE Qualifying Education credit.

ACHE Education credits will be automatically updated in your My ACHE account upon completion of the recording.

Interprofessional Continuing Education Credit

In support of improving patient care, the American College of Healthcare Executives is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive a maximum of 1 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change. For further information about Joint Accreditation credits and certificates, please click here.

Physician Continuing Medical Education

The American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Continuing Nursing Education

The American College of Healthcare Executives designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 contact hours of continuing nursing education.

Continuing Pharmacy Education

The American College of Healthcare Executives designates this knowledge-based activity for a maximum 1 contact hours of continuing pharmacy education credit. 

Continuing Social Work Education

The American College of Healthcare Executives designates this knowledge-based activity for a maximum 1 contact hours of continuing social work education credit.

Continuing Education for Dietitians

The American College of Healthcare Executives designates this knowledge-based activity for a maximum 1 contact hours of continuing education credit for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians, Registered. RDs and DTRs should enter activities offered by jointly accredited providers as type 102 on Professional Development Portfolio (PDP) activity logs. CPEUs awarded must be commensurate with participation in the activity.

Physician Associate/Physician Assistant Continuing Education

The American College of Healthcare Executives has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for a maximum of 1 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.