Crisis Services
NEWARK
SERVICE
Crisis Services provides primary emergency and crisis evaluation
and treatment, both on-and off-site, through programs at two locations:
the Psychiatric Emergency Service/Screening Center located in
University Hospital’s Emergency Department, and the Crisis
Services Clinic located at University Behavioral HealthCare in
Newark. The Psychiatric Emergency Service Screening Center and
the Crises Services Clinic operate 24 hours a day, seven days
a week. Call 973-623-2323 for more information.
ADMISSION CRITERIA
The Psychiatric Emergency Service/Screening Center and the Crisis
Services Clinic provide services for all adults and children presenting
to the UBHC system of behavioral care for emergency psychiatric
evaluation and treatment. All individuals presenting an emergent
need of evaluation and treatment are provided services regardless
of residence or ability to pay. The Screening Center additionally
operates a mobile outreach program that provides off-site emergency
evaluations. Criteria for mobile outreach evaluations include
evidence of psychiatric impairment and dangerous behavior to oneself
or others.
ACCESS 1.800.969.5300
Patients may obtain services by walking in, or by calling the
Access Center or the 24 hour hotline, which serves both locations
(University Hospital and University Behavioral HealthCare). Crisis
Services maintains active coordination/liaison relationships with
other UBHC departments, with the inpatient psychiatric unit and
medical units of University Hospital, University Hospital’s
Emergency Medical Service (EMS), local area hospitals, police
departments, and other agencies in order to facilitate access.
Staff is able to arrange transport of a patient in crisis. A screening
outreach team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
When possible, telephone screening of referrals is conducted to
determine the type of intervention required. Patients are also
screened for need of primary medical treatment. Patients who are
evaluated by the mobile outreach team, or who otherwise appear
to require secure management, are evaluated at the Psychiatric
Emergency Service/Screening Center at University Hospital, which
provides a more secure setting.
ASSESSMENT
Evaluation procedures are comprehensive and supportive of a patient
in crisis. Every effort is made to achieve a full understanding
of the patient’s needs and to consider various intervention
and disposition alternatives. Information is obtained from current
or past therapists, family members, and other collateral sources.
Multidisciplinary consultations are always available.
CARE
Treatment begins simultaneously with evaluation procedures, and
the service offers a full range of crisis stabilization modalities.
These include crisis intervention with patients and families,
pharmacological therapy, and utilization of 24-hour holding beds
for stabilization. A psychiatrist is always on duly to provide
intervention/consultation. Mental health clinicians and specialists,
certified as mental health screeners through the New Jersey Division
of Mental Health Services, conduct crisis/emergency evaluations
and mobile outreach evaluations. Mental health clinicians conduct
brief outpatient therapy through the Crisis Services Clinic. Additional
responsibilities of clinicians and specialists include supervision
of patients who are held for stabilization and crisis telephone
service. Supervision of clinical activities and service administration
are the responsibility of the Clinician Supervisor, Clinician
Administrator and Medical Director. Staff participate in numerous
liaison activities with the county acute-care system and related
agencies.
DISCHARGE/TRANSFER
All patients not hospitalized are linked to the appropriate community
resource. All referrals are confirmed with the receiving agency.
Follow-up is provided to reinforce the plan or develop alternatives.
Active coordination is maintained with UBHC services to ensure
priority attention and exchange of information. Dispositions are
reported to referring professionals. In the event that a patient
who is referred for outpatient treatment would encounter an extensive
delay for an initial appointment, Crisis Services will provide
brief outpatient follow-up care through the University Behavioral
HealthCare locations until the patient can be transferred to the
appropriate agency/department. Crisis Services participates in
interagency coordinating efforts through the County Systems Review
Committee.
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