Background and Aims: The prevalence of mental health disorders is on the rise with a reported ~59 million adults in the US with any mental health condition in 2022 and approximately 29.2% of individuals having experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lifetime. This steady rise has also been reflected in the number of mental health-related ED visits.

While the prevalence of ED visits for mental health conditions has been well researched, the impact of pre-existing mental health conditions on patients awaiting treatment in the ED for non-mental health related medical issues remains largely unexplored. The high-stress environment of an ED visit poses a substantial risk for negative patient experiences and possibly even lead to crises, especially given the high prevalence of mental health conditions in the US.

A positive patient experience benefits both patients and healthcare systems, ultimately resulting in improved clinical outcomes, reduced malpractice risk, and higher hospital profitability. Research has shown that low-cost interventions, such as clear communication, expectation management (e.g., wait times), and empathy are some of the most influential factors that patients indicated could significantly improve their ED experience.

Methods: Implementing non-pharmacological interventions in the ED has been shown to be a promising avenue. While there has been an increasing number of research studies on acupuncture and acupressure to relieve pain in ED patients, not much work has been conducted on alleviating anxiety in the ED. We are designing an implementation plan with hospitals in the Greater Los Angeles regions, such as San Gabriel Community Hospital to trial non-pharmacological methods to address anxiety and improve patient satisfaction. We aim to focus on guided breathing exercises, music therapy, and acupuncture in the waiting room of the ED.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the significant impact of mental health disorders and emphasize the necessity for enhanced and widely accessible mental health services, particularly in environments where access to timely mental health services is critical, such as the emergency department.