Technological Interventions in the Emergency Departments to Enhance Safety and Care Experiences of Mental and Behavioral Health Patients and Staff

Abstract

In the United States, post-COVID-19, Mental and Behavioral Health (MBH) related Emergency Department (ED) visits, specifically for young adults, have increased. This article presents a review of 29 peer-reviewed articles on technological ED interventions to improve the safety and care experiences of patients with MBH conditions. The key findings indicate improved MBH identification for patients, improved access to care with telepsychiatry, enhanced communication through standardized documentation and alerts, and high acceptability of crisis management interventions. Further research needs to be conducted to enhance intervention design, acceptability, and adoption of screening, remote consultation, and crisis management interventions, and reduce staff documentation workload.