Psychiatric Emergency

Saint Clare’s Hospital is the Designated Psychiatric Screening Service for Morris County Residents. Psychiatric Emergency and Psychiatric Screening Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These services are designed to meet the needs of those in acute emotional crisis, in which immediate psychiatric intervention is needed. A person seeking Psychiatric Screening Services will initially be seen in the medical emergency department for a medical screening exam. The purpose of this exam is to rule out a medical / metabolic condition that may cause current symptoms. Upon completion of the medical screening exam, the person will be referred to Psychiatric Emergency Services for a clinical interview and assessment of current mental status. The Psychiatric Screeners will interview the designated client, collateral resources, and all relevant clinical data will be documented. The staff will subsequently call the on call psychiatrist for a case discussion and disposition. Potential outcomes of disposition may be outpatient services, inpatient services (voluntary / involuntary), partial hospitalization, the children’s inpatient crisis intervention unit, and the detoxification unit.