Collaborating with Healthcare Leaders to Improve Outcomes

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in 2015, 6% of Pediatric Emergency Department visits nationwide were for Mental or Behavioral Health related issues. E4H participated in a multi-disciplinary team of individuals in order to inspect the issues and develop strategies to improve the patient, family, and staff experience in Emergency Departments serving adolescents. Through provider interviews and an extensive research review, the group proposed solutions for the patient experience of adolescents in Emergency Departments supported by best practices. Explorations and suggestions included in-room patient support and companion programs, including trained advocates as part of the care team, offering holistic treatment and therapy for extended stays, technology enabled positive distractions, telehealth psychiatric evaluations, family educational resource packets, and design for behavioral patients including natural light, accent graphics, and sound masking.