MedWest-Haywood Emergency Department opens Psychiatric Evaluation Area to help patients awaiting transfer to mental health facilities

7/9/2012

MedWest-Haywood Emergency Department opens Psychiatric Evaluation Area to help patients awaiting transfer to mental health facilities

Clyde, N.C. – MedWest-Haywood recently opened a Psychiatric Evaluation Area in the hospital’s Emergency Department to ease the time patients may spend waiting in examination rooms prior to being transferred to mental health facilities.

Generous grant funding from The Evergreen Foundation, the Rural Hope initiative of the Golden LEAF Foundation, and the Appalachian Regional Commission helped MedWest-Haywood create the Psychiatric Evaluation Area to better serve the community.

The new Psychiatric Evaluation Area of the MedWest-Haywood Emergency Department is comprised of a kitchen area, comfortable recliners, a television, a bathroom and individual areas that can be closed off by curtains for privacy.

The Psychiatric Evaluation Area can accommodate up to six patients at once and makes the transition and waiting period for patients more comfortable and allows the Emergency Department to open more rooms for other uses.

MedWest-Haywood Assistant Vice President of Emergency Services Roger Coward and MedWest-Haywood Emergency Department Director Ann Jordison were the primary MedWest-Haywood staff members involved with making the Psychiatric Evaluation Area a reality.

“This has been a long time coming, and I’m glad we have it open now,” Coward said. “I think it will definitely help our population.”

MedWest Health System provides healthcare for the people of western North Carolina at MedWest-Harris, MedWest-Haywood and MedWest-Swain hospitals, the outpatient facility MedWest-Franklin, and through the 100-member MedWest Physician Network. MedWest is affiliated with Carolinas HealthCare System.