EmPATH: Filling a need for urgent mental health care in Ky.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 6, 2025) – Since opening its doors July 30, 2024, UK HealthCare’s Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing unit (EmPATH) has already helped more than 1,800 people get the help they need.

The goal of EmPATH is to decompress emergency departments and inpatient units and promote better outcomes through rapid treatment access in the safest setting — and the data being collected is showing that EmPATH is meeting that goal.

“The impact of EmPATH on both our community and ESH has been significant, even in a short time,” says Lindsey Jasinski, Ph.D., chief administrative officer at Eastern State Hospital. “It not only has reduced our readmissions and census, but it’s also provided hope to those who are struggling and need support.”

More data show EmPATH’s effect in its first six months:

• Typically, around 10-12 people are being seen in EmPATH at any given time.
• The average length of stay is 15 hours.
• Patients’ chief complaint is suicidality.
• EmPATH has seen patients from 66 Kentucky counties (with the majority from Fayette County) and 21 states.
• Patients come to EmPATH on their own (or accompanied by family or friends) or through law enforcement/EMS.
• EmPATH has already prompted a decrease in Eastern State Hospital’s readmission rate.
• EmPATH has markedly decreased the number of patients seen in Good Samaritan Hospital’s emergency department for behavioral health needs.
• The vast majority of EmPATH patients return home after being provided community resources.
• Only about 25% of the individuals seen at EmPATH are hospitalized, and fewer than 5% of those are hospitalized at ESH. The rest are admitted to Good Samaritan’s Behavioral Health Unit.
• Typically, New Vista is able to schedule follow-up appointments for patients within a couple of days of their discharge.
• The rate of people keeping those appointments is extremely high, averaging around 61%, compared with a baseline of 29% before EmPATH.

"One of the most rewarding aspects of EmPATH is that we're able to provide services to people who previously were either not seeking services or were reluctant to get help,” said Marc Woods, chief nursing officer for Eastern State Hospital. “Also, they’re not only getting help in the moment, but they’re also being set up to receive care after they walk out the door.”

State, community, UK HealthCare and ESH/CKRC officials cut the ribbon on EmPATH on July 30, ushering in a new and exciting chapter in behavioral health care in our state.

Housed on the previously vacant Allen 1 on the campus of Eastern State Hospital, EmPATH provides much-needed dedicated emergency services for adults with behavioral health needs.

The first of its kind in Kentucky and one of only around 30 in the country, EmPATH is designed to be a therapeutic environment for treating behavioral health crises, serving as an alternative to sending a person in crisis to the emergency department.

Open 24/7, EmPATH has its own easy-to-access entrance and a capacity of 12-16 chairs. Patients can stay up to 23 hours. UK HealthCare is leasing the space and will be responsible for staffing and operating the unit.

The EmPATH model, which started in California and is now recognized as a national best practice by The Joint Commission, has been shown to reduce hospitalizations by 60%.

EmPATH is designed to provide easy access to treatment. As Jasinski says, “The philosophy is ‘Come on in. We’ll figure it out together.’”