Date

4-7-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Tamera Rasberry

Keywords

EmPATH model, Emergency psychiatry, Psychiatric emergencies, Emergency department boarding, Behavioral health crisis care, Psychiatric observation units, Emergency department overcrowding, Inpatient psychiatric admissions, Patient throughput, Readmission rates, Lean Six Sigma, Biblical worldview and healthcare

Disciplines

Psychiatry and Psychology

Abstract

In recent years, increasing patient volumes in emergency departments, rising cases of overdoses, and strained resources have heightened the attention paid to behavioral health care in the emergency department setting. Currently, various models of care attempt to streamline the provision of care for behavioral health patients in the emergency department. EmPATH, developed by Dr. Scott Zeller, offers rapid stabilization for psychiatric crises. While preliminary studies show promise, further research is needed. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of EmPATH implementation on patient outcomes, including boarding times, readmission rates, and inpatient admissions. Data was collected before and after implementation of an EmPATH unit in a hospital organization in the Southern United States with the analysis focusing on demographic information, diagnosis, length of stay, readmissions, and discharge disposition. The analysis of the data revealed that the implementation of EmPATH was associated with a reduction in boarding times and acute psychiatric inpatient admissions, while finding no statistically significant change in 30-day representation rates to the emergency department or diagnosis interaction. The limitations include the study's limited sample size and reliance on before-and-after analysis. Nonetheless, these findings suggest that EmPATH implementation was associated with improved ED throughput and reduced inpatient psychiatric admissions without evidence of increased short-term ED return visits. EmPATH represents a potential advancement in behavioral health treatment. The findings contribute to the understanding of emergency psychiatry and inform decision-making for healthcare stakeholders.

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