b'BEHAVIORAL HEALTH :The Pediatric ConnectionMelissa DevineRN, MSN, CNL I DIRECTOR WOMEN AND CHILDRENS SERVICES, CONCORD HOSPITAL - CONCORDTerri KotradyRN, MSN, PMH-BC I NURSE MANAGER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, CONCORD HOSPITAL - CONCORD Cheryl GrayRN, BSN I DIRECTOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DRF/ANNEX, CONCORD HOSPITAL - LACONIA, CONCORD HOSPITAL - FRANKLIN Concord Hospital health system has been caring for pediatric andFar from merely housing a young patient until a behavioral health youth with behavioral health care needs for many years. However,bed is available, Concord Hospital protects patients, begins effective children have been among one of the most impacted by the stress,clinical and therapeutic support and engages patients with age-anxiety and isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. appropriate activities to improve their well-being. Our Child Life Specialist assists in guiding the stress reducing activities and age-As a result, Concord Hospital and its community partners haveappropriate routines that help to provide some comfort and benefit. taken further creative steps to care for the significant increase in young behavioral health patients, keeping them safe and providingTo help ensure patients are moved to the behavioral health facility support as some wait to be transferred to Hampstead Hospital, theas soon as possible, Concord Hospital teams get an admission order, states only behavioral health facility for children. set a goal of creating a patient specific safety plan and coordinate a multidisciplinary team huddle to evaluate the patients needs. In Fiscal Year 2021, the number of pediatric behavioral health patients admitted to the Hospitals Pediatric Unit more than doubledIn direct response to our continuing needs of pediatric and the number of days they stayed in the unit nearly tripled frompatients, we strive to provide a multidisciplinary patient-the year before. In 2022, we saw similar trends.said Kotrady.centered approach to care,Not all pediatric behavioral health patients are admitted to theCaring for young behavioral health patients involves a delicate Pediatric Unit. In fact, depending on their condition and thebalance between providing the appropriate clinical and therapeutic availability of beds, some might stay in one of three specializedsupport, while keeping patients safe as some wait extended units in two of the health systems Emergency Departments (ED)periods for a spot at Hampstead Hospital. As part of that balance, until transferred to the next level of care, especially if their behaviorsour Hospitals Nurse leaders for Behavioral Health Services, meet create a danger to themselves or others.routinely with the care teams to discuss the best location for care, In the emergency departments, patients are assessed and cared forperform patient centered rounds, including the patient and family by a team that includes behavioral health experts from Riverbendas available and review transitions of care plans and discharge goals. Community Mental Health or Lakes Region Mental Health Center, ED and behavioral health clinical teams and the Hospitals pediatrics,Each childs needs are different, and we want to make emergency medicine and psychiatric providers.sure we are placing them in the appropriate area for their safety. We partner with our behavioral healthproviders to The Emergency Departments and Pediatric Unit care includesensure the child is evaluated in a timely manner and has a one-to-one attention from Patient Safety Attendants (PSA) or Safety said Gray.care plan developed,Companions who sit with the patient to monitor their safety and provide a professional companion during their hospitalization.Additional forums that help facilitate the right care, in the right place with the right resources, are the Pediatric Psychiatric Rounds and the Behavioral Health Process Improvement meeting. The care Making a connection with the patient givesthem the feeling they have an ally, a human andteams, including Hospital and community mental health leadership, therapeutic support who is with the patient 24/7 meet monthly to discuss ways to improve care so that hopefully, said Devine. more children can be discharged, safely, to their homes with until discharge,community support.26'