Beaufort Memorial Expands ER Mental Health Care With New Secure Evaluation and Assessment Unit
Beaufort Memorial Hospital has expanded its emergency mental health services by opening a secure Evaluation and Assessment Unit inside its Pratt Emergency Center, giving patients in psychiatric crisis a safer and calmer setting for care. The project is a $1.9 million emergency department expansion, designed to improve how quickly patients are evaluated, treated, and stabilized.
A separate space for psychiatric emergencies
The EmPATH model (Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing) has been adopted for the creation of the new unit, which emphasizes the healing of individuals undergoing crisis situations within a therapeutic setting and not in the main emergency room.
Patients will not have to stay in the crowded area of the ER; rather, they will be evaluated and looked after in an area that has been uniquely designed for the mental health needs.
What the unit includes
The secured unit includes:
- Two private patient rooms
- A consultation room
- A recliner bay, created to reduce stress and support more individualized care
Why the expansion matters
Hospitals across the U.S. have struggled with overcrowded emergency rooms and long waits for patients who arrive in mental health crisis. Beaufort Memorial’s new unit is meant to reduce those delays and support safer care for both patients and staff.
The hospital expects the unit to help shorten ER stays for mental health patients, while also improving safety and comfort during evaluation and stabilization.
How the project was funded
The expansion was supported through grants and philanthropy, including $1.6 million from the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS). Beaufort Memorial was one of only 13 healthcare systems in South Carolina to receive this funding.
The goal
The main goal is to provide faster and more focused emergency mental health care in an environment built for crisis support, instead of forcing patients to wait in the typical ER setting.