The primary objective of this study was to determine who are the psychiatric patients that utilize the Emergency Departments for their care. The secondary purpose was to identify reasons for the change in utilization.

A convenience study was conducted in an urban, Level I pediatric and adult trauma center 45,000 annual visits. The National Health Access survey was administered to all consenting psychiatric patients who presented to the Emergency Department between May of 2006 to April of 2007. The study was IRB approved.

Out of 310 patients 294 agreed to answer the survey. There was a difference between two types of psychiatric patients that utilize the ED for care. One that gets its care from a PCP or clinic, the other group that presents to the ED being primarily self- family-or police referred. The significant difference found between within the variables of those with a regular having a regular physician and regular health source, delay in getting mental healthcare, used emergency department services in the last twelve months, type of payment for services, and has condition gotten better or worse.

There appears to be two different types of psychiatric patients using the ED for care. One group who primarily gets its care from a PCP or clinic and presents to the ED with a higher level of prior hospitalization. The second group did not have a PCP had a lessor number of prior hospitalizaions.