Emergency health services review
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Emerg Health Serv Rev · Jan 1985
The psychiatric emergency/crisis disposition and community networks.
Recent advances in techniques of rapid neuroleptization have enabled psychiatric emergency/crisis intervention staff to stabilize many acutely ill patients in a brief time period, frequently less than 24 hours. This has resulted in less need for hospital admissions and has challenged the mental health field to develop alternative disposition options. ⋯ Thus, a primary function of the unit is the advocacy for, and coordination of, dispositional services, including those provided by a variety of community resources. The unit serves as a networking center that plays a central role in facilitating dialogue between mental health and social assistance agencies, which in turn leads to better follow-up planning and care for the mentally ill while avoiding unnecessary hospitalization and institutionalization.
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Nationwide Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training programs at both basic and advanced levels are in flux, confronting similar challenges in design and implementation. There currently exist the 81-hour Department of Transportation course of instruction as the basis for EMT-Ambulance (EMT-A) certification and the National Standard Training Curriculum (NSTC) 15-module course for training the EMT-Paramedic (EMT-P). The National Registry of EMTs has established examination and recertification guidelines as well as requirements for both levels of training. ⋯ Evaluation of current training programs based on the NSTC has resulted in updating the EMT-P curriculum. The proposed curriculum includes new course material with behavioral and performance objectives. An ongoing system of training, evaluation, and incorporation of new techniques found clinically relevant is recommended.