Using patient journey mapping and provider workflows to understand process barriers to pediatric mental and behavioral health care in emergency departments

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40157127/ An AHRQ-funded research project at four southeastern U.S. emergency departments (EDs) has identified 394 unique barriers to pediatric mental and behavioral healthcare in those EDs. The study, which was published in Applied Ergonomics, analyzed more than 5,500 pediatric behavioral health visits using a novel approach of mapping patient journey and caregiver workflow by tracking structural elements of healthcare delivery over the ED’s workflow timeline, observing the processes and interviewing the staff. When researchers categorized the visits into three core segments of patient engagement—arrival, evaluation and treatment plan and disposition—they identified 237 barriers that occurred during patient evaluation, 148 during delivery of treatment plans and disposition and just nine during patient arrival at the EDs, suggesting potential points for intervention.