MUHC adult psychiatric emergency care gets brand new home at the MGH

Clinical staff and guests present at the opening of the McGill University Health Centre’s (MUHC) Adult Psychiatric Emergency Department at the Montreal General Hospital (MGH) last Thursday were impressed by the new facilities that will increase efficiency and quality of care.

“The space is absolutely beautiful,” says Psychiatrist Dr. Nadia Szkrumelak, chief of the Department of Psychiatry. “This is a calming, healing environment where doctors and nurses are best equipped to take care of patients and to welcome families. We are proud of our accomplishment and grateful to the MGH Foundation for helping us to get up and running.” 

Located on the first floor within the Emergency Department, the new area will receive close to 4,000 visits per year and consists of a centrally located consultation area, a six-stretcher Psychiatric Emergency Department, plus a seclusion room, and an eight-bed Brief Intervention Unit (BIU) with an additional seclusion room. 

“The new department will improve care and significantly reduce length of stay. Patients who come to the MGH’s ED and need acute psychiatric services will be directed to us and stay as an ambulatory patient for assessment, be treated at the BIU for two to five days or be admitted to psychiatry,” says Dr. Szkrumelak.

Associate Director of Nursing for the ED and Mental Health Mission Pina LaRiccia is amazed that the construction was completed in only four months. 

“The consolidation of all adult psychiatric emergency services in one location was a long time coming, but the design and construction of the space itself was an accelerated project,” she says. “It’s incredible that we succeeded in time for the transfer of the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) to the Glen. We’re thankful to the great collaboration of the clinical leaders from Mental Health and the ED, clinical staff, the planners and the builders. We’re especially grateful to the MGH Foundation for its generous contribution to this project.”

Whereas the Psychiatric ED is operational, the BIU will be ready to receive its first patients in June. The MUHC’s Psychiatric Ambulatory Clinics will continue to occupy the Allan Memorial Institute for the next two years. 

	The new adult Psychiatric Emergency Department at the Montreal General Hospital (MGH) is adapted to the care of patients with mental health problems.
“These facilities designed in collaboration with my predecessor, Dr. Donald Groenewege, are the best I’ve seen in 30 years of practice. It’s like winning a Ferrari without having done anything,” says Dr. Pierre Bleau (on the right, with Dr. Groenewege), psychiatrist and recently appointed Director of Emergency Psychiatry at the MUHC.
	“This project has been amazing. Not only is the new unit a healing environment for patients, but it will improve our capacity to deliver the best care,” says Pina LaRiccia, associate director of Nursing for the ED and Mental Health Mission (on the left, with Angelina Perillo, nurse manager, In-Patient Services, and Yavana Cosentino, transition administrative assistant).
“This consolidation is one important step in a carefully thought out plan to reorganize Mental Health services at the MUHC. Our next challenge will be to establish the future of outpatient services in the MUHC,” says Dr. Nadia Szkrumelak, chief of the Department of Psychiatry at the MUHC. From left to right: Psychiatrist Dr. Allan Fielding, Pina La Riccia, Dr. Groenewege, Jacques Avital, project manager, Technical Services, and Dr. Szkrumelak.
	“The area was planned in close collaboration with the staff, so we know it’s going to be functional and will have the desired outcome of improving patient care,” says Jean-Guy Gourdeau, president and CEO of the Montreal General Hospital Foundation (with Dr. Szkrumelak).
“We’re excited to embark on this new challenge. We are looking into improving our nursing practices to bring an advanced and updated level of care for mental health patients,” says ED Nursing Manager of the ED Carole Filteau (with Dr. Bleau).