New dedicated psychiatric emergency department now open at Reading Health
Reading Health opened its Psychiatric Emergency Department on Jan. 17, in the Reading HealthPlex for Advanced Surgical & Patient Care. The new designated Psychiatric Emergency Unit offers specialized emergency care in Reading Hospital’s Emergency Department.
Reading Health’s Psychiatric Emergency Services will offer high-quality, personalized emergency mental healthcare24hours aday, seven days aweek in the new space. With 10 private treatment rooms, the Psychiatric EmergencyDepartmentwill provide a safe and secure unit for patients in crisis.
Reading Health sees an average of 485 behavioral health patients each month. Berks County Crisis Services interacted with 4,240 unduplicated individuals for a total of 13,020 contacts, many of which were also seen in the Reading Emergency Department.
Specialized psychiatric emergency departments have been proven to enhance care for psychiatric patients and to enhance care by providing services in a dedicated area away from the bustling Emer- gency Department.
The new unit will help Reading Health specialists more effectively and efficiently evaluate and treat emergency behavorial health patients in the level of inpatient or outpatient care they need. The newdepartment also will enhance Reading Health’s collaboration with community agencies to ensure continuity of care for patients.
About Reading Health
Reading Health, headquartered in West Reading, is an integrated, nonprofit healthcare system serv- ing communities in Berks and surrounding counties. More than 1,000 physicians and providers across 46 locations offer comprehensive, quality care ranging from prevention, screenings, and education to the latest clinical services and treatments. The system includes Reading Hospital, a 695-bed hospital offering advanced specialty care including McGlinn Cancer Institute, Miller Regional Heart Center, Emergency andTrauma, Stroke and Joint Care. For more information about Reading Health, visit www. readinghealth.org.