Call for public comment on establishing a Focused Practice Designation in Emergency Behavioral Health is now open.
ABEM has applied to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to recognize expertise in Emergency Behavioral Health (EBH) through a Focused Practice Designation (FPD).
ABEM and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology have collaborated on this initiative and together will offer this FPD to interested emergency physicians and psychiatrists.
The purpose of a this FPD is to recognize the expertise held by physicians in the provision of emergency behavioral care. An FPD would facilitate improved access to physicians with specialized expertise to help address the needs of patients seeking acute, unscheduled mental health treatment.
The mental health crisis in the US and its lack of access to EBH care has created the need for a unique skill set that combines areas within the field of emergency medicine and psychiatry. Appropriate and timely emergency behavioral health care can be provided to patients who are boarding in the emergency department for days, weeks, or, on occasion, months, while awaiting an open inpatient psychiatric bed. An Emergency Behavioral Health Focused Practice Designation takes one step forward to address this public health emergency.
A period of public comment is open through ABMS to share your support!
