98 EMS Utilization Among Patients on Involuntary Psychiatric Holds in Alameda County, April 2014-2016

Involuntary emergency psychiatric holds are placed on individuals suspected of having mental illness who are deemed to be dangerous to themselves or others. The purpose is to legally detain them for an emergency psychiatric evaluation. Although the situation arises frequently in all communities, the process that follows placement of such a hold varies immensely across the country; even neighboring counties having very different protocols. In many cases, these patients are then taken to a health care facility, usually an emergency department (ED).

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