Patient Volume and Dispositions in a VA Psychiatric Emergency Room During COVID-19

Mitchell, Lorena; Fuehrlein, Brian

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a decline in emergency department visits in the United States. Less is known about how COVID-19 has impacted psychiatric emergency services (PES). This report compares visits to the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs psychiatric emergency room from March–August 2020 to the same period from three prior years (2017, 2018, 2019) to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on patient volume and dispositions. Compared to prior years, there was a decline in visits in March–August 2020, particularly in April. This coincided with the peak of COVID-19 in the state. Rates of hospitalizations remained consistent, while rates of referrals to residential programs decreased. The decline in visits likely indicates that many veterans postponed necessary mental health and substance use treatment. This delay could have significant clinical ramifications for veterans and may lead to an eventual surge in demand for emergency mental health care.