When a mental health crisis strikes, every minute counts. Yet, during an emergency, individuals often face agonizing waits of a month or more for a therapy appointment, and even longer to see a psychiatrist. This delay can allow a precarious situation to escalate, necessitating an even higher level of care. Crisis response centers must integrate walk-in urgent care services to address this critical gap. 

"When individuals come in, they're in a self-defined crisis; they're not capable of diagnosing the acuity of that crisis," Colin LeClair, CEO of Connections Health Solutions, told BHB. "The goal is always to move individuals to the most appropriate and lowest cost setting possible and help them avoid hospitalization." 
 
Urgent care within a crisis response center provides same-day or walk-in access to behavioral health services including outpatient assessments, crisis counseling, medication management, care coordination, and bridge services until the individual is connected with appropriate ongoing care. These programs are typically staffed by a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner, along with social services staff. Additional team members might include peer support specialists and financial eligibility experts. The average visit time is less than two hours. Urgent care serves as the initial point of contact, triaging individuals to receive care in this setting or, if necessary, admitting them to a higher acuity 23-hour observation unit. 
 
The distinction between urgent care and a 23-hour observation unit lies in their purpose and intensity of service. While both provide immediate attention, urgent care focuses on rapid assessment, stabilization, and connection to outpatient services. It is designed for individuals in crisis who do not require extended medical monitoring. In contrast, 23-hour observation units offer a higher level of care, with continuous monitoring and treatment, for those whose condition necessitates a longer, more intensive stay. 
 
Without walk-in urgent care, individuals in crisis face unmet needs until their situation deteriorates, potentially requiring more costly and restrictive care. By providing immediate access to assessment and intervention, urgent care within crisis centers can deescalate emergencies, prevent hospitalization, and ensure a timely link to ongoing treatment. It is imperative that crisis centers prioritize the integration of walk-in urgent care to meet the pressing needs of those in mental health crisis. 

SOURCE:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0193953X24000443