Psychiatric emergency department opens at Brackenridge

"Creating this facility [and] assembling the very specialized staff that will work here shows our commitment as a community to creating a continuum of services for care for this population," said Jess Garza, president and chief executive officer at Seton.

Patients receive a physical and mental assessment upon arrival. The department's staff treat patients for the crisis at the facility after assessment, unless the patient needs to be treated at the main emergency room for physical injuries or ailments, and in which case they are transferred.

When the department reaches capacity, patients will be referred to regular emergency rooms, according to Seton. Once patients are discharged they are referred to an outpatient or impatient facility or a crisis center. Although the facility cannot treat anyone younger than 18 years old, Seton's Shoal Creek Hospital can treat minors. Seton's call center may be reached at 512-324-0000.

Addressing behavioral health needs is one of Sen. Kirk Watson's, D-Austin, goals for improving health care in Travis County. The $4.2 million emergency department is funded by local and federal matching funds under the 1115 waiver program.

"Health care is about measurement," said David Pringle, Seton's vice president of mission integration. "When it comes to care that is going to be provided in this facility, measurement is important because somehow it says that, 'somebody understands my pain. Somebody understands what's happening with me and somebody cares.'"