Literature Review: Psychiatric Boarding

摘要

This literature review will explore the relevant literature on several key questions regarding boarding of psychiatric patients in the ED. Is psychiatric boarding a problem. What are the reasons for boarding psychiatric patients. What kind of care is received while patients are boarded. Our review of the literature will delve into these questions as well as the impact of psychiatric patient boarding on others, including the financial impact. We will also discuss how the decisions of key players including ED staff, law enforcement, insurance companies and hospitals have a significant impact on the ED boarding process for psychiatric patients. Where possible, we will provide data to support key findings. Finally, we will highlight best practices and solutions regarding ED psychiatric boarding. We note that current data, although sparse on this topic, is suggestive of an emerging widespread problem causing serious disruption of the service delivery system in a substantial number of communities. However, geographic variation, lack of robust evaluations and data indicate that further academic studies on this topic are needed.