The grant will help fund building renovations and program start-up costs at two undetermined locations in the county.
Hospital emergency rooms are often ill-equipped to treat patients suffering from psychiatric episodes and staff members lack the proper training needed, said Michael Brant-Zawadski, MD, executive medical director of Hoag Neurosciences Institute in Newport Beach, Calif.
Orange County officials believe the new psychiatric emergency centers will offer a treatment solution. Once the centers open, Orange County police and emergency medical personnel will be instructed to take psychiatric patients to these centers — instead of the emergency room — where they can stay for just under 24 hours.
“Patients could be evaluated, discharged and transferred to the proper outpatient treatment program,” said Dr. Brant-Zawadski.
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