Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
page
post

Emergency & Crisis Services Consultation

MC3 offers no-cost child psychiatry consultations to providers at select emergency department (ED) partner sites in Michigan.  

Consultations

Psychiatrists are available through phone consultations to offer guidance on diagnostic questions, medication recommendations, and appropriate behavioral interventions for patients up to age 21. Your regional MC3 Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC), a master’s prepared licensed clinician, is also available to provide recommendations for local resources.  

An anguished looking female teen speaking with a doctor in a health care setting.

These experienced clinicians are available for phone consultations to offer guidance on: 

  • Evaluation and diagnosis
  • Psychopharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management of behaviors and psychiatric conditions
  • Suicide risk assessment and safety planning
  • Communication and counseling strategies 
  • Community resources

The MC3 team, including Regional BHCs, will work closely with ED staff to coordinate the consultation.  

Who can participate?

Prescribing ED health care providers at select partner sites who are treating patients up to age 21 are eligible to request child psychiatry consultations from MC3. Participating partner sites currently include all Munson Healthcare ED sites. If you do not work at a partner site but would like to learn more about this service, please email us at [email protected]. 

How do consultations work?

  • ED provider orders consultation.
  • ED provider or delegate submits an online consult request using the secure link below.
  • MC3 psychiatrist calls the treating ED provider to provide consultation. Initial consultations typically last about 15 minutes, and follow-up consultations last about 10 minutes.
  • MC3 BHC sends a summary of the recommendations to the ED provider.
  • MC3 BHC is available to discuss post-discharge resources.

Consult requests can be submitted online anytime, but will be returned during our business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. Submissions made after 4 p.m. ET on weekdays, on weekends, or on holidays will be addressed the next business day.

Request consultation

What is included?

  • These services are intended to support health care professionals who are caring for young people during a behavioral crisis in the emergency department. 
  • MC3 will also consult on patients who have behavioral needs who are primarily being seen in the ED for physical health concerns.
  • MC3 will consult on patients who are in juvenile detention or incarcerated. 
  • MC3 will consult on all patients whether it is their first acute crisis, or their condition is chronic. 
  • When ED patients have stays that exceed 24 hours (i.e., “boarding”), MC3 can provide follow-up consultation to offer additional recommendations, as needed, throughout the patient’s ED encounter. 

What is NOT included?

  • MC3 does not provide direct evaluation or treatment for ED patients. 
  • MC3’s consultation to ED providers is not intended to replace existing behavioral resources.  
  • Screening or disposition services provided by CMH will remain the responsibility of CMH. 
  • MC3 will not address how to transfer patients to Michigan Medicine psychiatric unit/services or facilitate a “back door” to those services. 
  • MC3 does not provide consultation on ED patients after discharge, however MC3 can provide consultation to the treating outpatient provider such as the primary care provider.  
  • MC3 will not consult on the physical health management of acute intoxication or withdrawal but can aid with behavioral or psychiatric presentations related to substance use, either acute or chronic.
Download a PDF with this information

MC3 Emergency & Crisis Services Training Recordings

This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award (Award Number: 2 U4CMC32321-06-01) totaling $1,016,880 with 20% financed with State of Michigan resources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.