Emergency rooms remain a critical part of the behavioral health crisis continuum, yet many people experiencing psychiatric emergencies report difficult or traumatic experiences in these settings.

This session explores how hospitals across the country are transforming emergency psychiatric care through trauma-informed approaches, improved environments and patient-centered practices.

Panelists will discuss innovations such as Emergency Psychiatric Interventions (EPI) training for emergency clinicians and Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing (EmPATH) units designed specifically for behavioral health crises.

Participants will gain insight into how these models improve patient experiences, reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and strengthen connections to follow-up care.