EMERGENCY SERVICES (ES)
It is the policy of PEMHS to operate as a public receiving facility 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. PEMHS operates an emergency screening area known as the Access Center where emergency screenings are available by phone, telemedicine, and face-to-face for those in the community. Crisis hospitalization is available for those in need of inpatient services. The Access Center and all crisis units are open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
The Access Center also provides suicide and crisis telephone response, emergency walk-in and Baker Act screenings, outreach and follow-up services, lethality assessment and rescue services, community education, and arrange for medical clearance on consumers from medical hospitals, contact case managers/representatives/guardians/parents/families/significant others. All crisis units accept admissions 7 days a week, twenty-four hours a day. The local crisis number is 727-791-3131.
For more information contact:
Amanda Bard, MSW, LCSW
Coordinator of Critical Care Services Emergency Services & Impact Team
727-545-6477 ext. 366, email: abard@pemhs.org
Baker Act
The Baker Act is a Florida law that enables families and loved ones to provide emergency mental health services and temporary detention for people who are impaired because of their mental illness, and who are unable to determine their needs for treatment. The Act was named after Maxine Baker, former Miami State representative who sponsored the Act in 1972. People who require the use of the Baker Act have often lost the power of self-control, and they are likely to inflict harm to themselves or others. It is important that the Baker Act only be used in situations where the person has a mental illness and meets all the remaining criteria for voluntary or involuntary admission. It does not substitute for any other law that may permit the provision of medical or substance abuse care to persons who lack the capacity to request such care.
EMERGENCY SERVICE/ACCESS CENTER
Emergency Services Access Center Specialists provide crisis counseling or immediate evaluation for any child or adult experiencing a mental health crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We offer suicide risk assessment and examination for involuntary psychiatric admission for crisis stabilization care. PEMHS is the designated public receiving facility for Pinellas County. No person eligible for service under Florida’s Baker Act is denied treatment.
We provide:
• Crisis Counseling
• Crisis hotline
• Information and Referral
• Safety Contracting
The discharge planning process includes the following concepts:
• Planning begins at admission
• Includes implementation of the initial treatment plan for crisis stabilization
• Includes active information gathering and assessment of clients and gathering
• Clients not meeting Baker Act Criteria will immediately be safely contracted home and provided with relevant information and referral.
• Clients meeting Baker Act criteria will be triaged in an appropriate crisis stabilization facility setting, whether at PEMHS or another community receiving facility.