This project will survey Emergency Room (ER) managers in a nationally representative sample of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) to determine the proportion of ER encounters involving mental health pathology, types of mental health problems most commonly seen in these encounters, and resources available to CAHs to address the problems encountered. Project staff will also investigate whether the presence of the other two safety net provider types in the community (primary care and mental health), the rurality of the community (as indicated by RUCA classification), or the presence of another hospital in the county affect the volume or types of mental health problems encountered.

Publications

• Mental Health Encounters in Critical Access Hospital Emergency Rooms: A National Survey
  Maine Rural Health Research Center
  Date: 09/2005
  This survey investigates the extent and types of cases that present with mental health problems in critical access hospital emergency rooms (ERs), as well as the resources available to ER staff for addressing such problems and what actually happens to these patients.
• Smallest Rural Hospitals Treat Mental Health Emergencies
  Maine Rural Health Research Center
  Date: 2006
  This research and policy brief discusses the extent to which rural emergency rooms encounter and treat mental health patients.
• Use of Critical Access Hospital Emergency Rooms by Patients With Mental Health Symptoms
  Journal Article
  Maine Rural Health Research Center
  Date: 2007
  Describes the results of a study investigating the use of critical access hospital (CAH) emergency rooms by patients with mental health problems to understand the role these facilities play in rural mental health needs and the challenges they face.