A Program of Crisis Intervention in the Emergency Medical Setting
L. D. HANKOFF M.D.1,
MARIE T. MISCHORR R.N.2,
KARLE TOMLINSON M.D.3, , and
SHEILA A. JOYCE R.N.4
1 Director of Psychiatry, Misericordia Hospital Medical Center, 600 East 233rd St., Bronx, N. Y. 10466 and Professor, Department of Psychiatry, New York Medical College, New York, N. Y.
2 Nursing Supervisor, Emergency and Outpatient Departments, Misericordia Hospital Medical Center, 600 East 233rd St., Bronx, N. Y. 10466
3 Assistant Attending Psychiatrist, Misericordia Hospital Medical Center, 600 East 233rd St., Bronx, N. Y. 10466 and Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, New York Medical College, New York, N. Y.
4 Head Nurse, Emergency Department, Misericordia Hospital Medical Center, 600 East 233rd St., Bronx, N. Y. 10466
The general hospital emergency room provides an excellent opportunity for the conduct of crisis intervention toward a goal of primary psychiatric prevention. The authors describe the development of a collaborative program involving psychiatric staff as consultants and emergency room nurses as crisis intervention counselors. Patients were readily located and engaged, nurses effectively conducted counseling, and families often reported benefit from their contact with the nurses.
