I’m watching the HBO drama “The Pitt”, and I have a procedural question.
In the show they demonstrate extensive organic work-ups prior to admitting to psych. My experience in Australia is the opposite. Anything that’s even vaguely behavioural health is immediately hand-balled to psych without even a basic work-up (often not even a CT for first episode psychosis).
This is due to our very strict rules about time in an emergency department (>24 hours and the hospital gets fined by the state).
I think our practice is super dangerous for obvious reasons, but there’s not a huge amount of political will or possibility to change it.
I’m wanting to hear from you guys how this plays out
Edit: I’m an emergency physician, that’s why I’m asking