Child and Adolescent Mental Health Boarding Without Transfer

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Emergency Medicine
• Child Psychiatry

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased hospital boarding of children with behavioral or emotional complaints in emergency departments (EDs).
• Boarding, defined as holding admitted patients in the ED, exceeds recommended durations and impacts resource availability.
• This practice delays essential psychiatric care and reduces bed capacity for medical and surgical patients.

Discussion:

• The study highlights the significant challenges posed by pediatric mental health boarding in EDs.
• Boarding exacerbates existing healthcare access issues for children requiring psychiatric stabilization.
• The practice contributes to ED overcrowding and diverts resources from other patient needs.

Key Insights:

• Pediatric mental health boarding became a critical issue during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Extended ED boarding times negatively impact patient care and hospital operations.
• There is an urgent need for strategies to mitigate mental health boarding in pediatric populations.

Outlook:

• Future research should focus on developing and evaluating interventions to reduce boarding times.
• Policy changes and increased psychiatric bed availability are crucial for addressing this problem.
• Collaborative efforts between EDs, inpatient units, and mental health services are essential for improving pediatric care access.