Telepsychiatry in the emergency department: a pilot study on remote psychiatric assessment in the Netherlands
Dublin Core
Title
Telepsychiatry in the emergency department: a pilot study on remote psychiatric assessment in the Netherlands
Subject
Telepsychiatry, Emergency department, Psychiatric emergencies, Telemedicine, Feasibility study, Patient
satisfaction, Acute mental health care
satisfaction, Acute mental health care
Description
Abstract
Background Emergency Departments (EDs) increasingly manage patients in acute psychiatric crisis, often facing
delays due to limited on-site psychiatric specialists. Telepsychiatry offers a potential solution, but its feasibility and
acceptance in Dutch EDs remain underexplored. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility, technical aspects, and
acceptance of telepsychiatry consultations in a Dutch ED setting.
Methods This two-phase observational pilot study was conducted at a large hospital ED in the Netherlands. During
a three-month baseline-phase (Aug–Oct 2024), eligible adult patients received standard in-person psychiatric
consultations. In the subsequent three-month pilot-phase (Nov 2024–Jan 2025), patients were evaluated via secure
video consultation with a remote psychiatrist. To assess feasibility and technical execution, lead times, including
consult request and consult start time, time until disposition decision and ED length of stay, were recorded. To
further evaluate technical execution and acceptance, patients and ED staff were asked to complete satisfaction
questionnaires, after each telepsychiatry consult.
Results Eleven patients were included during the baseline-phase and 17 during the pilot-phase. All telepsychiatry
consultations were completed successfully, with only minor technical issues. Patient satisfaction was high, and
psychiatrists and ED staff rated the consultations as effective and efficient. Furthermore, mean time from consult
request to disposition decision was about an hour less during the telepsychiatry phase (approximately 45 vs. 106 min
in the baseline phase).
Conclusion Telepsychiatry in the ED appears feasible, technically reliable, and well accepted by both patients and ED
staff. This pilot study supports further exploration of telepsychiatry as a tool to enhance emergency psychiatric care
delivery in the Netherlands.
Keywords Telepsychiatry, Emergency department, Psychiatric emergencies, Telemedicine, Feasibility study, Patient
satisfaction, Acute mental health care
Background Emergency Departments (EDs) increasingly manage patients in acute psychiatric crisis, often facing
delays due to limited on-site psychiatric specialists. Telepsychiatry offers a potential solution, but its feasibility and
acceptance in Dutch EDs remain underexplored. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility, technical aspects, and
acceptance of telepsychiatry consultations in a Dutch ED setting.
Methods This two-phase observational pilot study was conducted at a large hospital ED in the Netherlands. During
a three-month baseline-phase (Aug–Oct 2024), eligible adult patients received standard in-person psychiatric
consultations. In the subsequent three-month pilot-phase (Nov 2024–Jan 2025), patients were evaluated via secure
video consultation with a remote psychiatrist. To assess feasibility and technical execution, lead times, including
consult request and consult start time, time until disposition decision and ED length of stay, were recorded. To
further evaluate technical execution and acceptance, patients and ED staff were asked to complete satisfaction
questionnaires, after each telepsychiatry consult.
Results Eleven patients were included during the baseline-phase and 17 during the pilot-phase. All telepsychiatry
consultations were completed successfully, with only minor technical issues. Patient satisfaction was high, and
psychiatrists and ED staff rated the consultations as effective and efficient. Furthermore, mean time from consult
request to disposition decision was about an hour less during the telepsychiatry phase (approximately 45 vs. 106 min
in the baseline phase).
Conclusion Telepsychiatry in the ED appears feasible, technically reliable, and well accepted by both patients and ED
staff. This pilot study supports further exploration of telepsychiatry as a tool to enhance emergency psychiatric care
delivery in the Netherlands.
Keywords Telepsychiatry, Emergency department, Psychiatric emergencies, Telemedicine, Feasibility study, Patient
satisfaction, Acute mental health care
Creator
Jorn Eerhard1 , Heleen van ’t Oever1 , Cherryl V.S. van Alst2
, Rosa L.A. de Vries2
, Dieuwke Douma-den Hamer1 ,
Sander Manders1
, Carine J.M. Doggen3,4 and Gert-Jan Mauritz1*
, Rosa L.A. de Vries2
, Dieuwke Douma-den Hamer1 ,
Sander Manders1
, Carine J.M. Doggen3,4 and Gert-Jan Mauritz1*
Date
2025
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Jorn Eerhard1 , Heleen van ’t Oever1 , Cherryl V.S. van Alst2
, Rosa L.A. de Vries2
, Dieuwke Douma-den Hamer1 ,
Sander Manders1
, Carine J.M. Doggen3,4 and Gert-Jan Mauritz1*, “Telepsychiatry in the emergency department: a pilot study on remote psychiatric assessment in the Netherlands,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 22, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/13244.