Use of Peer Staff in a Critical Time Intervention for Frequent Users of a Psychiatric Emergency Room

Psychiatr Serv. 2016 May 1;67(5):479-81. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201500503. Epub 2016 Jan 14.

Abstract

Project Connect, a clinical demonstration program developed in consultation with the New York State Office of Mental Health, adapted critical time intervention for frequent users of a large urban psychiatric emergency room (ER). Peer staff provided frequent users with time-limited care coordination. Participants increased their use of outpatient services over 12 months, compared with a similar group not enrolled in the program. For persons with significant general medical, psychiatric, and social needs, provision of this intervention alone is unlikely to reduce reliance on ERs, especially among homeless individuals.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Hospitals, Urban
  • Humans
  • Ill-Housed Persons / psychology*
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / therapy
  • Mental Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • New York
  • Odds Ratio
  • Patient Discharge*
  • Patient Readmission*
  • Risk Reduction Behavior
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Time Factors