Foreword

Article Outline

• Copyright

The evaluation of patients presenting to a Primary Care Physician or Emergency Department and their eventual placement to a psychiatric facility has confounded physicians for decades. The terms “medical clearance” or even “medical stability” has been utilized universally with very little literature support. The usual implication of these terms is that patients may be admitted to a psychiatry service after known or suspected medical issues are addressed. A clinical guide regarding this issue has been needed to focus on algorithmic approach for appropriately triaging a psychiatric patient.

To this end, through the leadership of Ted Tempkin, Maureen Slade, Deborah Taber and MaryLynn McGuire Clarke, the Illinois Hospital Association had convened a multidisciplinary task force to comprehensively research this issue. While the primary focus was upon Emergency Department Presentation, its recommendations are applicable to any primary care or outpatient clinic setting. The accompanied manuscript represents literally years of discussion, debate and research and we are all indebted to the Illinois Hospital Association for supporting such a process. We hope that you find these guidelines helpful in your approach to these particularly vexing clinical problems.