Multidisciplinary Approach to Enhancing Safety and Care for Pediatric Behavioral Health Patients in Acute Medical Settings

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2018 Jul;27(3):491-500. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2018.03.004. Epub 2018 Apr 24.

Abstract

Emergency department visits by pediatric behavioral health patients are increasing, increasing the complexity of care. This article describes initiatives at 3 academic medical centers using multidisciplinary teams, including medical, child life, and security staff, to help decrease anxiety and increase patient comfort. Training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and agitation management simulations increase staff preparedness for working with agitated and emotionally dysregulated patients. Training security personnel and establishing a behavioral health response team ensures that staff members with expertise in managing agitation support the medical teams and patients throughout the hospital.

Keywords: Agitation; Behavioral health; Behavioral response team; Child life; Emergency; Multidisciplinary teams; Security; Simulation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Emergency Service, Hospital*
  • Hospital Rapid Response Team*
  • Humans
  • Mental Disorders / therapy*
  • Patient Safety*
  • Personnel, Hospital / education*
  • Psychomotor Agitation / therapy*