Psychiatric emergency assessment

CHEO is the designated schedule 1 hospital in the Champlain region supporting community hospitals in the management of pediatric mental health acute, high risk patients.

To request a psychiatric emergency assessment

The attending Emergency Department physician will need to:

Ensure the patient meets the criteria for a Form 1, requiring involuntary status and a psychiatric assessment

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

Patient meets Box A criteria for a Form 1 under the Mental Health Act
Risk of harm to self or others, or risk of physical impairment is considered imminent, life-threating and best modified by a an inpatient psychiatric admission

Exclusion criteria

Delirium
Intoxication or withdrawal
Medically unstable
Social admission (including homelessness)

Call the Main Switchboard at 613-737-7600, extension 0 and ask for the on-call psychiatrist, to review the case.
The on-call psychiatrist will review the patient status and determine next steps, including completing a virtual assessment of the patient when appropriate while they are still in the community hospital.

For patients who do not meet criteria for an emergency assessment, please consider a referral to 1Call1Click.ca.

- 1Call1Click is a regional coordinated access and navigation program that connects children, youth and families to the right services at the right time.     
- This bilingual service assists children and youth up to 21 years of age

For accepting referrals, the Referring Hospital will then need to

Complete the referral package, and fax to 613-738-4852. Please include:
1. CHEO referral and billing information
2. Regional Medical Clearance and Repatriation Form
3. Clinical Notes
4. Form 1 (if there is one)
While speaking to CHEO on the phone:
- Confirm your hospital’s email address (to send the virtual link)
- Confirm time of virtual assessment
- Confirm that there will be a parent / caregiver present. When it is not appropriate for a parent to be at the bedside, confirm that a nurse or other appropriate staff member be present.
- Provide phone number to CHEO, in order to be reached during and after the assessment.
Have your iPad ready to go, and email open to accept virtual link.

Please Note

CHEO will work to provide same day assessments until 8pm. Calls received after 8pm will have virtual assessments booked for the following day.

Slides are available from Meetings with Referring Hospitals in our Region - email Ghyslaine Paquette to request a copy.