Half-Hour Hot Topics: Care Planning for Urgent Behavioral Health Concerns

Most administrators and nursing staff members are not trained to intervene when a resident is expressing suicidal intent or demanding transport to the hospital because of symptoms related to PTSD, anxiety or other behavioral health concerns. A call to 911 and transport to the emergency room becomes the only option in the absence of clear care plan approaches. This session defines emergent vs. non-emergent mental health concerns, offers a variety of staff training and care plan strategies for residents with recurrent behavioral health emergencies, and identifies strategies for working with community mental health treatment partners.