Children’s hospitals are seeing a growing number of children with behavioral and mental health needs; often, families don’t know where to turn. This has put pressure on facilities not designed to care for combative, aggressive or at-risk patients.
This complex issue is leading to higher costs of care and longer hospital stays, contributing to provider burnout and injuries, and uncovering the lack of specialized community services.
New strategies are needed to ensure these children have the best outcomes. Many children’s hospitals are developing programs that support staff in recognizing signs, preventing escalation, and connecting patients and families with the right kind of care.