As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice locally, I am very pleased to learn of the new plans MidCoast Hospital has to better serve the needs of psychiatric patients presenting for care at the ER. For many years I have been concerned about the deficiencies in the system which is designed to serve those clients whose psychiatric/emotional needs are urgent and beyond what can be offered safely on an outpatient basis. While I don’t often need to refer a client for possible inpatient care, when I do I am highly confident that this is what is needed for the safety and appropriate care of my client.

Our current system for this kind of emergency requires that each patient who presents at the ER must in addition to being evaluated by the ER doctor also be evaluated by a crisis worker from Sweetser. While Sweetser has many competent staff, they are also often short staffed and overly busy, adding to the lengthy wait in the ER. I have never understood why when a patient is in active treatment with a local provider and a local psychiatrist, both of whom concur on the patient’s need, why such a patient must still wait for Sweetser to evaluate them. My most recent experience with a patient ended poorly when the client left after a seven-hour wait, more agitated than when she arrived.

Perhaps as the new plans are being facilitated consideration can be given to working collaboratively with local outpatient providers, who most likely have an ongoing treatment relationship with the patient. This might not only facilitate a more comfortable experience for the patient, but also save some time for the Sweetser workers and make them more available for other patients and service needs. Thank you.

Linda Heller
Brunswick