Description 

There is a nationwide crisis of individuals suffering behavioral emergencies, who now average one in seven cases seen in US hospital emergency departments (EDs) -- where patients become stuck 'boarding', untreated, for long hours, even days, in EDs, waiting for an elusive inpatient psychiatric bed. Fortunately, a cost-effective, patient-centric, safe and efficient solution has been developed, the EmPATH unit (Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing unit). EmPATH units, an extension of the ED, typically stabilize and discharge 75% of patients within 24 hours who traditionally would have been held for admission to inpatient care.  In EmPATH, the need for coercive measures like physical restraints and forcible injections are minimal, and patient satisfaction is very high, while recidivism is decreased. The physician who pioneered these units will present a precise description of EmPATH, its amazing peer-reviewed outcomes, and how these programs can be implemented in any size or shape hospital, whether urban or rural, academic or community. 

Format 

Recorded webinar 

Learning Objectives 

1) Define the Six Goals of Emergency Psychiatric Care 

2) Explain the limitations of crisis care provided outside the hospital setting and how hospital-level programs can mitigate these issues. 

3) Describe the core aspects of the EmPATH unit model of care. 

Target Audience 

Social Worker, Counselor, Psychologist, Physician (Non-psychiatrist), Physician Assistant, Peer Specialist/Peer Support, Psychiatrist, Nurse/Nurse Practitioner  

Instructional Level 

Introductory, Intermediate, Advanced 

Estimate Time to Complete 

Estimated Duration: 1.0 hour 
Program Start Date: November 22, 2023 
Program End Date: November 22, 2026

Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in Q&A. 

Ongoing Interdisciplinary Discussion Board 

After completing the course, engage with colleagues in the mental health field through SMI Adviser's Webinar Roundtable Topics discussion board. This is an easy way to network and share ideas with other clinicians who participate in this webinar. Access through the discussion tab.  

How to Earn Credit 

Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, nursing continuing professional development contact hours (NCPD, formerly CNE), CE credit for psychologists, CE credit for social workers, or a certificate of participation may do so by viewing the live presentation and completing the evaluation. Participants claiming CE credit for psychologists and those claiming CE credit for social workers, must have full attendance to claim credit. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians), CE certificate (psychologists), CE certificate (social workers), nursing continuing professional development contact hours (NCPD, formerly CNE), or certificate of participation (other disciplines) showing the event date and hours earned.  

Continuing Education Credit 

In support of improving patient care, the American Psychiatric Association is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.    

Physicians 

The APA designates this live event for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.  

Nurses/Nurse Practitioners    

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) designates this activity for 1.0 Nursing contact hour. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.   

Psychologists 

Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs. 

Social Workers 

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. APA maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 social work continuing education credits. 

Continuing education requirements vary from state to state. Many state boards grant reciprocity with national accrediting organizations and other state boards. It is the responsibility of each professional to understand the requirements for license renewal or check with the state or national licensing board and/or professional organization to become more familiar with their policies for acceptable continuing education credit. Social workers and Psychologists should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval. 

Faculty and Planner Disclosures 

The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity. 

Instructors 

Scott Zeller, MD is Vice President for Acute Psychiatry at the multistate multispecialty physician group partnership Vituity; assistant professor at University of California-Riverside School of Medicine. H=He developed the “Alameda Model” and is known as the co-inventor of Emergency Telepsychiatry and the creator of the EmPATH Unit (Emergency Psychiatry Assessment, Treatment and Healing Unit) model for behavioral health emergency care. He led Project BETA (Best Practices in the Evaluation and Treatment of Agitation), which produced guidelines that have revolutionized the care approach to agitated individuals around the world. Dr. Zeller has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. 

Planners  

• Teri Brister, PhD, LPC, National Alliance on Mental Illness. Dr. Brister has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. 
• Amy Cohen, PhD, American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Cohen has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. 
• John Torous, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Torous has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. 
• Sherin Khan, LCSW, Thresholds. Ms. Khan has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. 
• Donna Rolin, PhD, APRN, University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Rolin has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. 

Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities 

The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. Please contact the American Psychiatric Association at 202-559-3900, if you require assistance seven (7) business days prior to the start of a live webinar. 

Technical Requirements 

This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following: 

• The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari 
• Internet Explorer 11+ 

This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player. 

Optimal System Configuration: 

• Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version) 
• Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version) 
• Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content 
• Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content 

For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity | Contact SMIadviserhelp@psych.org for technical assistance