Inova Telepsychiatry Program

Inova Telepsychiatry Program provides real-time collaboration between Inova emergency departments and Inova Behavioral Health Services. This program is part of the Inova Telemedicine Program. Emergency medicine clinicians remotely connect with psychiatric liaisons for faster access and proper treatment protocols to help improve patient outcomes. How the Program Works When a patient presents to the ED with psychiatric symptoms: The emergency medicine physician reviews patient’s status and determines need for psychiatric evaluation The mobile cart (or other technology) is moved to the patient’s bedside The patient, EM physician and remote psychiatry liaison begin a real-time consult The EM staff consult with the psychiatry liaison to expeditiously determine treatment, admission or transfer decisions Benefits to Patients Faster access to a psychiatric specialist Less time spent in the emergency department Fewer transfers among healthcare facilities Benefits to Healthcare Providers 24/7 real-time access to psychiatry liaisons ED psychiatry consultations Decreased length of stay in the ED