Staff recently toured Bridgeport Hospital’s new Psychiatric Emergency Services five-bed unit.
Bridgeport Hospital’s Psychiatry Department unveiled a new five-bed unit for its Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES), expanding the existing unit in the Emergency Department. The new unit has the same safety features as the existing unit, plus interactive smart screens that allow patients to access content for therapy, education and relaxation.
The new unit, made possible by a donation from the Bridgeport Hospital Friends of Pediatrics, also allows Psychiatry providers to separate patients with different needs to promote healing and safety. For example, pediatric patients coming to the ED can be set apart from adult patients.
“Dedicated spaces help minimize exposure to challenging situations, which can be overwhelming or even traumatic,” said Peter Morgan, MD, PhD, chair of Psychiatry at Bridgeport Hospital and professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine. “Providing a safe environment is vital for delivering quality care, and these new units will enable us to continue supporting patients when they need us most.”
