A new option for people experiencing behavioral health crises in the Pee Dee region offers an alternative to busy emergency departments. They can now get immediate care in a calm, welcoming environment. That’s the idea behind the adolescent and adult EmPATH units in the MUSC Health Leatherman Behavioral Care Pavilion in Florence.
“EmPATH is emergency psychiatric, assessment, treatment and healing, basically crisis stabilization,” said Elizabeth Crowley, executive director of the pavilion.
“We want patients to know that if they’re experiencing a behavioral health crisis and not experiencing other physical concerns that would require an emergency department, they can come right to Leatherman, and we can assess them here.”
EmPATH units, like the name suggests, take an empathetic approach to helping patients.
“In an EmPATH unit, you’re immediately met with a mental health professional. We do a psych assessment and review what the best next step is for you. Do you need inpatient care? Can we stabilize the crisis so you can go home? Do you need intensive outpatient care? We want to change the culture in our community around not having to go to the Emergency Department when you’re having a behavioral health concern,” Crowley said.
Environment
An EmPATH unit definitely has a different look from an emergency department. The units in Florence, like those in the MUSC University Medical Center and the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, prioritize patients’ comfort.
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