Transforming Behavioral Health Management in the ED: From System Strain to Strategic Advantage

Emergency departments are under growing pressure from rising behavioral health demand, psychiatrist shortages, and lengthy patient boarding times. Yet many hospitals are improving access, accelerating evaluations, and reducing strain on ED resources through a more flexible, team-based model for behavioral health care. Based on insights from Array’s white paper, Transforming Behavioral Health Management in the ED, this report explores how health systems can redesign behavioral health workflows to better match patient needs while optimizing scarce clinical resources.

• How virtual behavioral health services can help hospitals expand access to timely psychiatric expertise

• Strategies to reduce ED boarding, improve patient throughput, and support more efficient care delivery

• A practical framework for aligning behavioral health resources to patient acuity while preserving psychiatrist capacity

This downloadable report offers actionable insights for health system leaders looking to improve patient flow, strengthen behavioral health operations, and deliver the right level of care at the right time.